Tight End · Detroit Lions · Age 25 · Iowa · TE7 Half-PPR (Season 2026)
Sam LaPorta is ranked TE7 (overall #85) for the Season of the 2026 NFL season in Half-PPR fantasy football by Hayden of The Underdog Football Show. Hayden has Sam LaPorta ranked 12 spots higher than their Underdog ADP of 96.6, flagging this as a value pick.
LaPorta is a must target at 100th overall
LaPorta only played the first 10 weeks of the year, when the Lions were 2nd in points per game (31.4) and 3rd in EPA per dropback. The offense was explosive, but LaPorta was only the TE15 in expected half PPR points on just 5.4 targets per game. He had no weekly floor due to volume. That's the risk in a balanced offense with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams competing for looks. Those issues could persist again in 2026. That said, LaPorta is a star on film and has some of the best advanced stats at the position. LaPorta was 2nd in success rate (67%), 4th in EPA per target (+0.74), and 5th in yards per target (10.1) last year. He flies around the field, and coach Dan Campbell springs him open on leaks and play-action shots. While not a great blocker, LaPorta has improved and can stay on the field for most snaps. The reality is this elite efficiency is bound to slightly regress, as his aDOT (5.7) and yards per target (10.0) make no sense together. So LaPorta will need better TD luck to make up the difference. Is that such a bad call in his situation? I don't think so. The Lions are 3rd in projected points (26.1), even if that's a full 5.0 points lower than they averaged last year when LaPorta was in the lineup. LaPorta is currently priced (104.2 ADP on Underdog) lower than where he finished on a per-game basis last season; 81st overall in fantasy points over replacement per game, which is my favorite all-encompassing stat. I'll buy into that arbitrage, also pointing out that LaPorta's ceiling jumps multiple tiers if something ever happens to Amon-Ra. LaPorta is one of the best picks at cost. Draft him.
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See where all Tight Ends are ranked for the 2026 fantasy football season. Sam LaPorta is currently TE7 among Tight Ends.
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Hayden is a fantasy football analyst for The Underdog Football Show, covering 2026 fantasy football with PPR and Half-PPR rankings, ADP comparisons, and weekly start/sit analysis. Rankings are updated regularly throughout the season. Hayden's "Best Bet" designations highlight players ranked higher than their ADP consensus, while "Fade" designations flag players the ranker believes are overvalued by the market.
By Hayden · The Underdog Football Show · Updated 2026-07-06