The Detroit Lions will face the Washington Commanders in the Divisional Round. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding TE Sam LaPorta.
Is Sam LaPorta Playing in the Divisional Round?
LaPorta was not listed on the injury report this week, so barring any setbacks, he is on track to play this weekend.
We’ll continue to monitor the Lions’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit Sam LaPorta in the Divisional Round?
Here comes Samta Claus? LaPorta Power?
The nickname and/or lifestyle needs a better label — I’ve got you started, and I’m sure you’re more creative than I am — but it’s the sentiment that you need to note.
Last season, we got a late TD hat trick from Detroit’s standout TE, and he hauled in nine passes in consecutive playoff games (the third tight end to ever do that). This season, he’s seen at least six targets in eight straight games and is putting together pace numbers that look awfully familiar.
Sam LaPorta’s receiving production:
- Weeks 13-18, 17-game pace: 91 catches for 967 yards and 11 TDs
- 2023 season (17 games): 86 catches for 889 yards and 10 TDs
The Lions are going to be an awfully popular team given that the opening lines had them projected to clear 30 points. If you’re buying LaPorta this week, you’re going to have to get creative with your roster construction.
The unique way to roster this chalky piece would be to do it as a one-off and not stack him with any of his teammates. That’s a little aggressive for me, but I do think there are smarter ways to go about building a Lions-centric lineup than others.
LaPorta’s aDOT has dipped in the three games since David Montgomery went down, and it’s made him more efficient.
- Weeks 16-18: 6.4 aDOT with a 77.3% catch rate
- Weeks 1-15: 8.4 aDOT with a 70.5% catch rate
If you think Montgomery sits and/or is limited, to me, you’re saying that LaPorta fills the short-passing role. If that’s the case, stacking up Jared Goff and Jameson Williams with him is a logical way to bet on Detroit while still being different to a degree by passing on Amon-Ra St. Brown.
If you think Montgomery will be a full-go, you’re moving LaPorta more down the field. That opens up short looks you can distribute to either St. Brown or someone else (pick your favorite Detroit RB). There are going to be plenty of lineups with 2-3 Lions this weekend and that makes sense — if you leave out St. Brown, you take on plenty of risk, but you differentiate yourself from the field and will save enough money to pay up elsewhere.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Divisional Round Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Sam LaPorta’s Fantasy Points Projection in the Divisional Round
As of Saturday, LaPorta is projected to score 20.5 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 7.3 receptions for 84.3 yards and 0.8 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
Sam LaPorta’s Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 11:45 PM ET on Saturday, January 25.
Conference Championship TE PPR Rankings
1) Travis Kelce | KC (vs. BUF)
2) Dallas Goedert | PHI (vs. WAS)
3) Dalton Kincaid | BUF (at KC)
4) Zach Ertz | WAS (at PHI)
5) Noah Gray | KC (vs. BUF)
6) Dawson Knox | BUF (at KC)
7) John Bates | WAS (at PHI)
8) Grant Calcaterra | PHI (vs. WAS)
9) Ben Sinnott | WAS (at PHI)
10) Quintin Morris | BUF (at KC)
11) Peyton Hendershot | KC (vs. BUF)
12) E.J. Jenkins | PHI (vs. WAS)
13) Anthony Firkser | NYJ ()
