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Phil Clark's fantasy football analysis for Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta. Is this NFL rookie tight end a 2023 fantasy football sleeper candidate?
The annual frenzy that accompanies the arrival of each NFL rookie class has transpired once again during the offseason. Fantasy football managers and analysts became immersed in the assessment of various players from this year’s class prior to the NFL Draft. The process of projecting the results that will be delivered by first-year players has also continued throughout the offseason.
While various developments in recent months have fueled a decline in the stock of some newcomers, a convergence of encouraging factors for several other rookies has bolstered optimism surrounding their prospects of emerging as viable starting options for fantasy managers. That applies to tight end Sam LaPorta, who was placed into a favorable environment when Detroit selected him during Round 2 of last April’s NFL Draft.
He is now primed to operate as the Lions' starting tight end while functioning within an aerial attack that is in desperate need of additional weaponry beyond Amon-Ra St. Brown. LaPorta’s ability to capitalize on this opportunity has positioned him to bypass many of the normal obstacles that can impede first-year tight ends. This has also created a strong possibility that he will operate with a consistent role in Detroit's emerging offense while becoming a point producer for managers as his first year progresses.
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Sam LaPorta's Prolific High School Career
Sam LaPorta's ascent into a starting role with the Lions began at Highlands High School (Illinois), where he played basketball and football. He earned all-state honors in both sports during his tenure with the Bulldogs and became a four-year letterman at wide receiver and defensive back. However, it was his accomplishments as a receiver that ultimately created his pathway to the NFL.
LaPorta accumulated 135 receptions, 2,844 receiving yards, and 39 receiving touchdowns during his final two seasons. That included 68 catches/1,457 yards/19 touchdowns as a senior.
That expanded his overall yardage total to 3,793, which placed LaPorta third overall in Illinois state history. He also completed his high school career with 50 touchdowns, which vaulted him to second in state history.
Sam LaPorta As Iowa's Primary Receiver
LaPorta emerged as a 3-star recruit (24/7, ESPN) and ultimately signed with Iowa in December 2018. LaPorta’s decision provided him with an opportunity to preserve the Hawkeyes’ tradition of productive tight ends. That includes T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant, who had combined for 88 receptions, 1,279 yards, and 13 touchdowns in 2018.
LaPorta played in 12 games while registering 15 receptions and 188 yards as a freshman. He also paced Iowa in receptions (27), while finishing second on the team in receiving yards (271) during his sophomore season.
LaPorta also led Iowa in receptions and receiving yards during each of his final two seasons, while eclipsing 85+ targets, 50+ catches, and 650+ yards twice during that span. That includes the team-high results that he attained in 2021 (53 receptions/670 yards), while he also accumulated 58 receptions/ 657 yards in 2022.
| 2021 | Rec | Yards | YPR |
| Sam Laporta | 53 | 670 | 12.6 |
| Nico Ragaini | 26 | 331 | 12.7 |
| Arland Bruce IV | 25 | 209 | 8.4 |
| Charlie Jones | 21 | 323 | 15.4 |
| Keagan Johnson | 18 | 352 | 19.6 |
| 2022 | Rec | Yards | YPR |
| Sam Laporta | 58 | 657 | 11.3 |
| Nico Ragaini | 34 | 386 | 11.4 |
| Luke Lachey | 28 | 398 | 14.2 |
| Arland Bruce IV | 19 | 187 | 9.8 |
| Leshon Williams | 11 | 78 | 7.1 |
LaPorta’s 153 receptions during his four seasons established a new school record for tight ends while his 1,786 receiving yards placed him second overall. LaPorta also accumulated 30 broken tackles during 2021-2022 (according to PFF), including 20 during his final season. LaPorta was also named as a finalist for the John Mackey Award in 2022, was included on the All-Big Ten first-team, and was also named Big Ten Tight End Of The Year.
Sam LaPorta's Impressive NFL Combine
LaPorta’s stock was bolstered by his performance at the NFL Combine, as he finished third among tight ends in the 40-yard dash (4.59). He was also second at his position in the 3-cone drill (6.91), and third in the 20-yard shuttle (4.25).
His efforts in Indianapolis combined with his enticing collection of attributes compelled Detroit GM Brad Holmes to select him with the 34th overall pick during the aforementioned NFL Draft.
Those capabilities and his imminent opportunity as a starter have positioned him to achieve an immediate level of success that often eludes rookie tight ends.
Sam LaPorta's Critical Role In Detroit's Offense
LaPorta flourished with the responsibilities of operating as Iowa’s top receiving option. He also displayed his versatility with the Hawkeyes by operating outside on 65 snaps last season, according to PFF. In addition to lining up as an ‘X’ receiver, he was also utilized as an H-back and operated in-line. This should incentivize Detroit’s second-year OC Ben Johnson to take advantage of LaPorta’s playmaking potential by deploying him in a similar fashion. That will maximize the 6’3”, 245-pound LaPorta’s enticing blend of size, athleticism, and agility.
Detroit finished 19th in pass play percentage (56.0%) during Johnson’s first year with the Lions, as the team was also 12th with an average of 34.6 attempts per game. Jared Goff targeted tight ends on 16.7% of his attempts, which ranked 27th. However, the Lions were 14th in that category (20.9%) from Weeks 1-8, before T.J. Hockenson was traded to NFC North rival Minnesota. Detroit then plunged to 30th overall (13.5%) following Hockenson's departure.
| Weeks 1-8 | Target % | TPRR | Targ/Gm | Rec/Gm | Yards/Gm |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | 25 | 31.4 | 8.3 | 5.8 | 57.3 |
| T.J. Hockenson | 18 | 21.6 | 6.1 | 3.7 | 56.4 |
| Josh Reynolds | 17.6 | 18.6 | 6 | 3.7 | 51 |
| D.J. Chark | 16.7 | 17.8 | 6 | 2.3 | 32.7 |
| D'Andre Swift | 11.9 | 18.9 | 4.3 | 3.3 | 26 |
| Kalif Raymond | 10.5 | 17.7 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 39.7 |
| Jamaal Williams | 5 | 21.8 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 9.5 |
| Brock Wright | 4.5 | 28.6 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 29.3 |
| Weeks 9-18 | Target% | TPRR | Targ/Gm | Rec/Gm | Yards/Gm |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | 29.8 | 34.5 | 9.6 | 7.1 | 81.7 |
| D'Andre Swift | 16.5 | 41.4 | 5.3 | 3.5 | 28.5 |
| D.J. Chark | 12.5 | 17.7 | 4.3 | 2.9 | 50.5 |
| Kalif Raymond | 12.1 | 23.6 | 3.9 | 3 | 37.8 |
| Josh Reynolds | 9.6 | 21.3 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 24.4 |
| Shane Zylstra | 5.7 | 16.9 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 7.5 |
| Brock Wright | 5.6 | 18.8 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 12.8 |
| James Mitchell | 4.5 | 22.7 | 1 | 1 | 14.1 |
| Jameson Williams | 4.2 | 28.1 | 1.5 | 0.17 | 6.8 |
| Jamaal Williams | 1.4 | 20 | 0.4 | 1 | 5.3 |
Hockenson was also second on the Lions with an 18% target share from Weeks 1-8, second in receptions (26/3.7 per game), and led the team in receiving yards (395/56.4 per game) during those matchups. Tight ends Brock Wright (5.6%), Shane Zylstra (5.7%), and James Mitchell (4.5%), all failed to reach a 6% target share while combining for 33 catches and 188 yards from Weeks 9-18. The Lions' investment in LaPorta has ensured an immediate upgrade at the position, and the talented newcomer should garner a respectable target share while operating with Goff.
Sam LaPorta's Competition For Targets
LaPorta will be integrated into an offense that is ascending under Johnson and head coach Dan Campbell. The most pivotal role within the Lions’ aerial efforts has been commandeered by Amon-Ra St. Brown, who has cemented his place among the league’s WR1s.
| 2022 | TPRR% | YPRR | Routes |
| Cooper Kupp | 36.4 | 3.02 | 269 |
| DeAndre Hopkins | 36.4 | 2.72 | 264 |
| Tyreek Hill | 34 | 3.42 | 500 |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | 33.4 | 2.66 | 437 |
| Deebo Samuel | 33 | 2.22 | 285 |
| Davante Adams | 32.5 | 2.74 | 554 |
| Keenan Allen | 31.9 | 2.7 | 279 |
| Chris Olave | 31.2 | 2.73 | 381 |
| Christian Watson | 31.1 | 2.88 | 212 |
| Drake London | 29.2 | 2.16 | 401 |
St. Brown captured a 28% target share last season, which placed him 10th among all wide receivers. He also collected 10+ targets in eight different contests, which propelled him to eighth overall with 146 (9.1 per game). The second-year receiver also finished fourth in targets per route run (33.4%), fifth in receptions (106/6.6 per game), and 10th in yards per route run (2.66).
St. Brown has also stockpiled 196 receptions (5.9 per game) during his first two seasons. That is the highest total among all members of his 2021 draft class, while also placing him seventh among all receivers during that span. St. Brown is also 12th in targets (265/8.0 per game) and 19th in receiving yards (2,073/62.8 per game) at his position during the past two seasons.
| Weeks 9-18 | Inside 20 | Inside 10 | RZ % |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | 16 | 4 | 27.8 |
| D'Andre Swift | 12 | 2 | 22.2 |
| Kalif Raymond | 7 | 1 | 13 |
| Shane Zylstra | 4 | 4 | 9.8 |
| Brock Wright | 4 | 4 | 7.4 |
St. Brown also finished seventh in red zone targets last season and rose to third at his position following Hockenson's departure. Wright and Zylstra tied for fourth on the Lions during that sequence, but LaPorta is now positioned to become one of Goff’s most targeted options inside the 20.
Jameson Williams is the theoretical WR2 for Detroit. However, his recovery from a torn ACL restricted him to a 4.2% target share, nine targets, and one reception during his rookie season. Multiple factors will also preclude him from making immediate contributions to the team’s aerial attack this season.
A hamstring issue limited Williams’ involvement in training camp while preventing him from accumulating critical snaps. He will also remain unavailable until Week 7 while serving his suspension for violation of the NFL’s gambling policy. This will prolong what has already been a lengthy delay in his opportunity to become the vertical weapon that had been envisioned when he became a first-round selection during the 2022 NFL Draft.
While Williams has yet to provide Detroit with a dynamic weapon to complement St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs will join LaPorta in commandeering significant roles within the team’s aerial attack. The Lions seized Gibbs with the 12th overall pick in last April’s NFL Draft and the explosive rookie is primed to confiscate a sizable workload during his first season. That will include a prominent role as a dynamic pass-catching presence from the backfield. Gibbs operated as a dual-threat back at the collegiate level while accumulating 1,979 total yards (1,206 rushing/773 receiving) during two years at Georgia Tech (2020-2021).
He transferred to Alabama for his final season and led the Crimson Tide in rushing attempts (151), rushing yards (926), and rushing touchdowns (seven). Gibbs also captured 56 targets, finished sixth among all backs in receptions (44), and accumulated 440+ receiving yards for a second consecutive season. He also paced all backs from 2020-2022 in receptions of 15-plus yards (25) and forced missed tackles on receptions (39), according to PFF.
Gibbs possesses a favorable combination of speed, vision, and elusiveness as a runner, along with the acceleration to erupt for big gains. He also has the proficiency as a receiver to run routes effectively from the backfield, while also delivering the ability to operate outside or from the slot.
St. Brown's status as the predominant weapon in Detroit's passing attack will remain unchallenged, while Gibbs could easily garner enough opportunities to finish second on the team in targets. However, Williams' troublesome hamstring and an impending suspension have created an expanded absence that will prohibit him from supplying Detroit with a big-play presence that would have fortified his role as the Lions' WR2. However, that also supplies LaPorta with a genuine opportunity to finish third on the team in targets, behind St. Brown and Gibbs.
Sam LaPorta's Fantasy Football Outlook
It is hardly a secret that rookie tight ends have historically struggled while they attempt to become acclimated to the requirements for success at the NFL level. It is also unlikely that LaPorta will completely avoid every hurdle that first-year tight ends usually encounter.
However, this should not deter you from maintaining optimism surrounding LaPorta’s prospects of becoming a resource for your rosters this season. He should bypass the majority of pitfalls that often inhibit production for rookie tight ends. With only Wright and Mitchell as his primary competitors on Detroit’s depth chart, LaPorta has been placed on an unobstructed lane toward immediate involvement as the Lions' unquestioned starter. That positions him to exceed the number of snaps and targets that are usually accumulated by rookie tight ends.
LaPorta also has the collection of skills to become proficient with his impending responsibilities as Detroit’s starting tight end. He also enters Week 1 having benefitted from four years of valuable experience at Iowa and is primed to join the other former Hawkeyes who have achieved success at his position in the NFL. LaPorta will also have the opportunity to function with a highly effective offensive line that was ranked fifth overall by PFF.
Williams' absence has also increased the likelihood that Goff will rely on promising newcomers LaPorta and Gibbs as his most targeted weapons beyond St. Brown. LaPorta is currently being selected in Round 11 of FFPC's best ball drafts (131/TE18), and Round 17 in NFFC leagues (182/TE19).
The convergence of his capabilities and his opportunity as an immediate starter could propel LaPorta to low-end TE1 output. It is more likely that he will operate as a high-end TE2, which would still exceed the expectations of his ADP.
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