Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta has caused a headache for fantasy football managers all week after being listed as questionable for today’s game. LaPorta has been dealing with a calf strain sustained in the Week 5 win versus the winless Carolina Panthers. However, how should fantasy managers view him coming into Week 6?
Is LaPorta going to play today against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? And, if he does, what is his fantasy outlook today?
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Is Sam LaPorta Going To Play Week 6?
LaPorta managed to finish the game in Week 5 vs. the Panthers. However, he shocked fantasy managers when he seemed to flare up in Wednesday’s practice, causing him to not practice on Thursday. However, he practice on Friday, albeit in a limited fashion. Fantasy managers should feel optimistic that he should be ok to play versus the Buccaneers in the late window today.
LaPorta told the media, reported by ESPN this week, “It’s football, things happen, we certainly work out bodies pretty hard so I’m feeling a lot better today.”
It seems LaPorta himself is confident he will start versus the Buccaneers — what does that mean for his fantasy outlook today?
What Is LaPorta’s Potential Fantasy Outlook Today?
LaPorta heads into this week’s slate of games as the TE1 in fantasy football. His impact on the game has been nothing short of remarkable and has been a real steal for fantasy managers this season.
LaPorta was not even drafted in the majority of leagues due to the historically poor performance of rookie tight ends in fantasy football at the position.
However, regardless of whether fantasy managers drafted him or picked him up off the waiver wire, they should be glad he is on their rosters.
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The Lions’ talented TE has a difficult matchup against a stingy Buccaneers defense. The Buccaneers are the eighth-best scoring defense in the NFL, only giving up 17 points per game to teams heading into Week 6. They are only allowing a QB rating of 75.1 (fifth-fewest in the NFL) and 223.3 passing yards per game.
Furthermore, the Buccaneers’ defense is only conceding 7.1 half-PPR points per game to fantasy tight ends, which is the 12th-lowest in the NFL currently.
However, despite all of this, if the TE1 currently in fantasy football is fit, there is absolutely no way fantasy managers can leave him on the bench.
LaPorta is currently ranked as the TE4 in our PFN Consensus Rankings this week. He is currently TE3 in fantasy points per game in PPR scoring with 14.4 points. Only eight TEs currently have double-digit points per game in PPR scoring coming into Week 6.
While LaPorta might have a difficult matchup, since the Buccaneers have not given up a touchdown to TEs so far this season, LaPorta should be viewed as a volume-based TE1 this week with touchdown upside to propel him into the top two or three at the position.
LaPorta is a must-start for fantasy managers this week and should not overthink his injury status or his matchup. If he is fit, he has to be started. Even if LaPorta has a low-scoring week, because scoring at the position is rather low, it is unlikely to hurt fantasy managers too much.
LaPorta is an extremely low-risk, high-reward play for Week 6. Start him in all formats.