The moment he became a Detroit Lion in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Sam LaPorta became the best tight end on the team. He followed by setting multiple single-season records for a Lions' tight end, and setting the NFL record (since reset by Brock Bowers) for catches by a rookie tight end (86).
There was literally nowhere for LaPorta to go but down in his second season, and he did with 60 catches for 726 yards and seven touchdowns. He was still a top-10 fantasy tight end last year, after finishing as the TE1 as a rookie, but he took a meandering path to get there.
LaPorta was outside the top-20 fantasy tight ends through Week 7, as he totaled just 14 receptions and one touchdown through six games. From there, over his final 10 games of the season, he had 46 receptions for 502 yards and six touchdowns. In fantasy terms, he was the TE6 from Week 8-Week 17 (or Week 18) regardless of scoring format (full-PPR, 0.5-point PPR, standard).
After scoring 7.3 or fewer fantasy points (full PPR) in five of his first six games, LaPorta scored 12.3 or more in six of his final 10 contests. He was the TE6 regardless of scoring format over that latter span (from Week 8 on).
LaPorta also averaged 8.3 targets and 14.1 fantasy points per game during the fantasy playoffs in most leagues (Week 15-17), over which time he was the TE1 (standard and 0.5-point PPR) or the TE2 (full-point PPR) depending on scoring format.
It may be déjà vu all over again for Sam LaPorta's fantasy managers in 2025
Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report recently offered up a basic starting lineup (one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, one tight end) comprised of the biggest boom-or-bust players in fantasy football for 2025. LaPorta was the choice at tight end.
"Sam LaPorta’s NFL career has been a tale of two seasons."
"In the first, LaPorta was transcendent. As a rookie in 2023, LaPorta caught 86 of 120 targets for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns. No tight end had more PPR fantasy points. A star was born."
"However, despite missing just one game in 2024, LaPorta’s numbers plummeted across the board. He was targeted 37 fewer times. Caught just 60 passes. His receiving yards and touchdowns both took a hit. And LaPorta finished the year a so-so ninth at his position in PPR points per game."
Davenport mentioned ESPN fantasy analyst Mike Clay's notes about LaPorta from earlier this offseason, which easily correlate with him being far healthier after a couple nagging injuries early last season.
"After pacing all tight ends in fantasy points as a rookie in 2023, Sam LaPorta fell to eighth in 2024", Clay wrote. "His receiving line dipped across the board (from 86-889-10 on 121 targets to 60-726-7 on 84 targets), though it's notable that he did get back on track to some extent after a slow start. After averaging 2.8 targets (11% team share) and 7.1 fantasy PPG during his first six games, LaPorta leapt to 6.7 targets (21% share) and 13.6 fantasy PPG in his final 11 (including the playoffs). Those numbers are near identical to his rookie season and closer to what we should expect moving forward.”
Davenport then got down to the core issues with some of the Lions' relevant fantasy assets this year, before coming back to LaPorta specifically.
"The problem is that the Lions have a crowded offense—especially with Jameson Williams ascending and a healthy David Montgomery back. Jared Goff isn’t afraid to spread the ball around. The man who coordinated last year’s buzzsaw of an offense (Ben Johnson) is now the head coach of the Chicago Bears. And after scoring over 33 points per game last year, the Lions are likely headed for at least some offensive regression in 2025."
"We have seen what LaPorta is capable of. But his seven touchdowns last year were the only thing that kept him inside the top-10 at his position. If LaPorta’s target and reception numbers this season are similar to last year’s and his touchdowns drop, fantasy managers who draft him inside the top-five at his position could be left holding the bag."
LaPorta's ADP, via Fantasy Pros and as Davenport alluded to, currently sits at TE4 and just outside the top-50 overall no matter the scoring format. That is a little rich all things considered, and the idea of some up-and-down, boom-or-bust 2024 déjà vu is something those who draft the Lions' tight end have to be ready for this year.
