Analyze Sam Laporta's matchup for week 9
LaPorta is a locked-in TE1 this week: Detroit’s offense is humming, Minnesota has allowed five TE touchdowns in their last three games, and the 24-year-old has out-targeted every Lions pass-catcher since Week 5. Fire him up.
Sam LaPorta enters Week 9 as the TE8 in fantasy with five top-10 finishes already this season. Detroit’s pass-heavy attack (68% drop-back rate, 5th highest) faces a Vikings defense that just gave up 6-59-1 to T.J. Hockenson and 8-82-1 to Evan Engram in back-to-back weeks. Minnesota plays man at the 6th-highest rate; LaPorta’s 78% slot rate gives him free releases against linebackers and safeties who have combined for a 107.5 passer rating when targeted against them.
Since Week 5 LaPorta leads all Lions in targets (28), receptions (21), and receiving yards (242) and has scored in three straight games, cementing himself as Jared Goff’s first read in the red zone.
The rookie’s usage has turned from promising to elite: he’s run a route on 82% of Goff’s drop-backs over the last four games, a top-three clip at the position. That stability in a high-volume pass offense gives him a weekly 8-target ceiling. The Vikings have allowed 13.4 fantasy points per game to tight ends in that same span (4th-most), and their safeties Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum have combined to miss 14 tackles since Week 6. LaPorta’s 4.65 YAC average ranks 2nd among TEs, so missed tackles equal chunk gains. Add in Detroit’s 29-point implied team total and the likelihood Minnesota plays light boxes to stop Jahmyr Gibbs, and LaPorta should face zone looks that leave him uncovered underneath. The only minor worry is a potential blowout script that could lean run-heavy in the 4th quarter, but his involvement on early downs and in two-minute drills keeps his floor at ~9 half-PPR points with a 15-18-point ceiling if he finds the end zone again. In typical 12-team leagues with one TE spot, he’s a top-4 play at the position this week.