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    Sam LaPorta (hip) dealing with injury

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    DET Tight End #87
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    Lions TE Sam LaPorta (hip) is dealing with an injury.

    LaPorta mysteriously missed practice on Wednesday. Lions HC Dan Campbell told reporters Thursday that the 25-year-old tight end is dealing with a hip injury. They’re letting him rest. Campbell told reporters he doesn’t believe it’s a long-term injury and that LaPorta could be ready for the start of the regular season, but he isn’t sure. Already coming off a back injury that required season-ending surgery last year, LaPorta has picked up another red flag with a preseason injury.
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  • DET Tight End #87
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    While Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams combined for 244 yards and two touchdowns, LaPorta was an afterthought in the Lions’ offense on Sunday. LaPorta’s first target didn’t come until late in the fourth quarter, and his first catch came in the fourth quarter on an 18-yard play. It was an uncharacteristically underwhelming game by LaPorta, who entered the day coming off two-straight games in which he topped 80 yards and found the end zone. Despite the dud performance, LaPorta will be in the TE1 ranks next week at home against the Vikings.
  • DET Tight End #87
    According to one of Jones’ sources, Lions GM Brad Holmes “does not like losing his draft picks, especially high ones.” A second-rounder in 2023, LaPorta made waves earlier this week when he expressed frustration with his lack of a contract extension on the Pardon My Take podcast. While those frustrations persist, the 25-year-old tight end clarified some of his comments to local Detroit media Friday, reiterating his desire to stay with the Lions long-term. Jones notes that other extensions the Lions have handed out have taken some time to get done. He also cautions that the team shouldn’t wait too long to sign LaPorta as the Raiders are unlikely to waste time making Brock Bowers the highest-paid tight end in football when he becomes extension-eligible after the season.
  • DET Tight End #87
    Earlier this week, LaPorta expressed frustration in an interview about his contract negotiations stalling in-season. The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy asked him a few follow-up questions today on the matter today, and LaPorta made clear that he hopes to remain a Lion long-term and is excited about the prospect of raising a family in Detroit. LaPorta seemed extremely earnest, saying he felt bad about his comments potentially causing a distraction for his team, but he knows his teammates care for him and want him to be happy and compensated. He handled the issue well and appears to be ready to play hard for a lucrative contract extension, which is good news for fantasy managers. LaPorta is a locked-in TE1 against the Packers this week.
  • DET Tight End #87
    LaPorta got involved on the Lions’ third drive, making a clutch 12-yard grab on 4th-and-3 while suffering what the officials deemed an unnecessarily rough hit by LB Mack Wilson at the end of the play. He chipped in two catch-and-run plays on the following drive. The first being an 11-yard play that was controversially ruled down in front of the sticks. Coach Dan Campbell called his number on the next play, resulting in an effortless 38-yard touchdown down the right side of the field. LaPorta tacked on an eight-yard catch and a 19-yard catch in the second half as the Lions cruised to a blowout win. He goes on bye next week but returns to the TE1 ranks in Week 7 against the Packers.
  • DET Tight End #87
    LaPorta was the primary beneficiary against the single-high-heavy Panthers, which was interesting considering both of Carolina’s top two corners were absent from this game. The 13 targets were easily a season high for the veteran tight end, primarily the result of 52 Jared Goff pass attempts in what would become a negative game script. LaPorta routinely found space behind the linebackers as the primary outlet through pressure for Goff, and while it remains unlikely he repeats the lofty target totals, LaPorta’s red zone acumen keeps him a fantasy TE1 ahead of a very different matchup in the two-high-heavy Cardinals in Week 5.
  • DET Tight End #87
    Rapoport did note that the Lions could make another push to sign LaPorta later this year, so the door isn’t entirely closed. LaPorta is set to become a free agent next offseason. The team could, however, place the franchise tag on him. He has gotten off to a quiet start with 14 catches for 144 yards and one score. LaPorta is currently on pace for a career-low in yards per game. He would still have plenty of suitors in free agency, even if the counting stats don’t improve this year.
  • DET Tight End #87
    LaPorta was a secondary piece of the passing attack in this game, taking a backseat to Jhamyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown. The two superstars combined for 16 targets while LaPorta and Jameson Williams were held to a combined eight looks. LaPorta has at least 44 yards in every game this year but no more than 52. With a solid floor established, all that’s left is for LaPorta to hit on a ceiling game. He remains a mid-range TE1 for Week 4 against the Panthers.
  • DET Tight End #87
    LaPorta combined with Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs to be the primary targets for quarterback Jared Goff on a night where relentless pressure from the Bills forced the offense to primarily attack the intermediate areas of the field. That could be the norm for this offense moving forward considering the mounting injuries along their offensive line, which are likely to be felt the most against opponents with a legitimate pass rush. That may not be the case in Week 3 when the Lions host the Jets, a team that is likely to also utilize elevated rates of zone coverage. LaPorta has had stark man-zone splits throughout his career and could see less volume due to matchup. He’ll be a low-end TE1 against the Jets.
  • DET Tight End #87
    Week 1 was business as usual for LaPorta, who finished second on the team in catches and yards. After missing time in the offseason recovering from a season-ending back injury and later a minor hip issue, this goes down as a big win for the young tight end, even if fantasy managers aren’t thrilled with his score. LaPorta will project for TE1 numbers when the Lions take on the Ravens next week.
  • DET Tight End #87
    Schefter was exploring extension possibilities across the NFL with colleague Pat McAfee and noted that the Lions have a propensity for signing players to extensions in-season. The stud tight end spent the offseason rehabbing after undergoing back surgery. Perhaps the front office just wants to make sure LaPorta returns to his pre-injury form this month before signing him to a lucrative deal. He is scheduled to enter free agency next offseason. Signing him to a long-term deal makes sense. He is a locked-in TE1 this season.

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    Dallas Goedert caught 5-of-7 targets for 48 yards in the Eagles’ Week 7 loss to the Cowboys.

    Goedert has now returned consecutive games of middling production with Tanner McKee under center, which is a somewhat troubling realization considering DeVonta Smith missed both games and Dontayvion Wicks departed Week 6 with an injury before missing Week 7. Goedert’s fantasy value appears strictly tied to the state of a sinking Philadelphia ball club, now fighting through declining quarterback play in addition to poor offensive structure and shoddy play calling. Fantasy managers are likely forced to endure the middling production for lack of better options.
  • PHI Wide Receiver #9
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    Makai Lemon caught 7-of-8 targets for 67 yards and a touchdown in the Eagles’ Week 7 loss to the Cowboys.

    Lemon showed out with the best game of his career in the absence of both DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks, operating as the top option through the air throughout the game against the Cowboys. He started his night off with a 21-yard reception on the team’s first possession before adding a fourth quarter touchdown on a quick slant from four yards out. The uncertainty surrounding Smith’s injury could leave Lemon as the de facto lead receiver for a Week 8 divisional tilt against the Commanders, where his fantasy value will be strictly tied to the availability of the other receivers on the roster.
  • PHI Quarterback #16
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    Tanner McKee completed 23-of-35 passes for 211 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the Eagles’ 38-21, Week 7 loss to the Cowboys, adding one yard on one carry.

    McKee looked to be comfortable in the pocket to start but things quickly unravelled, with the veteran backup unable to improve upon a 21-yard completion to rookie Makai Lemon in the first quarter as he remained incapable of attacking downfield. Lemon would also be the recipient of McKee’s lone touchdown toss, marking the second consecutive start with just one touchdown pass in relief of Jalen Hurts. The offense looked far more functional while Saquon Barkley was on the field, but the veteran back was in and out of the lineup from the second quarter through the fourth, before ultimately being deemed questionable to return and missing the final frame. The Eagles drop their fifth straight for the first time since 2016 as they fall further behind the Giants for the division lead. McKee is not worth rostering ahead of a Week 8 divisional tilt against the Commanders.
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    Jake Ferguson failed to catch his lone target in the Cowboys’ Week 7 win over the Eagles.

    Ferguson has almost entirely fallen out of favor in the Dallas offense. He has yet to catch more than four balls, clear 43 yards, or see more than six targets in a game this season, leaving his fantasy value in the dumps when he’s held out of the end zone. Ferguson will be a difficult start despite a glowing matchup against the Cardinals in Week 8.
  • DAL Wide Receiver #19
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    Ryan Flournoy caught all four targets for 70 yards in the Cowboys’ Week 7 win over the Eagles.

    Flournoy is not typically going to see elite volume while playing alongside two true alphas in CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, but he continues to outproduce tight end Jake Ferguson as the preferred third option through the air. His big play potential showed against the Eagles as he caught a 35-yard dime early. Flournoy is, at minimum, worthy of a bench spot and could work his way into viable FLEX territory with another solid outing against the downtrodden Cardinals in Week 8.
  • DAL Wide Receiver #88
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    CeeDee Lamb caught 5-of-12 targets for 74 yard and two touchdowns in the Cowboys’ Week 7 win over the Eagles.

    It wasn’t a clean game for the alpha wide receiver by any stretch, who committed two drops and caught only five of his team-leading 12 targets. Despite the poor efficiency, Lamb made the plays he needed to when it mattered most, scoring from nine yards out on a fade to the back corner of the end zone and from 16 yards out on a similar play to the opposite sideline. Lamb has now seen 56 targets in his previous four games, with 12 or more in three of his last four. That level of volume keeps him in elite company near the top of rest-of-season wide receiver rankings in fantasy circles, where he will remain ahead of a Week 8 matchup against the Cardinals at home.
  • DAL Running Back #33
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    Javonte Williams rushed 25 times for 155 yards and a touchdown in the Cowboys’ Week 7 win over the Eagles.

    Williams churned out consistently positive gains against the injury-riddled Eagles but took off in the fourth quarter, gaining over 60 yards in the final frame. He cashed in for fantasy managers with a touchdown with just over two minutes remaining on the clock to push his line into elite territory, despite failing to notch any receptions. The career high in yardage on the ground comes after the Cowboys averaged the fewest rush attempts per game during the first six weeks of the new season. Williams gets a sparkling matchup against the Cardinals at home in Week 8, where he’ll return to RB1 status in fantasy circles following the eruption against the Eagles.
  • DAL Quarterback #4
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    Dak Prescott completed 15-of-27 passes for 212 yards and three touchdowns in the Cowboys’ 38-21, Week 7 win over the Eagles, adding eight yards on two carries.

    Prescott made the throws when they counted while connecting on three touchdowns to his two alpha receivers, two to CeeDee Lamb and one to George Pickens. After averaging the fewest rush attempts per game through the first six weeks of the regular season, the Cowboys leaned heavily on Javonte Williams against a battered Eagles team, who set a career high with 155 yards on the ground. Even so, Prescott did not look his best, nor did the pass offense. Lamb committed two drops and the team benefited from multiple first downs due to penalty. Prescott gets another sparkling matchup against the Cardinals at home in Week 8, where he remains a fantasy QB1.
  • PHI Running Back #39
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    Dameon Pierce (undisclosed) was taken to the locker room in the fourth quarter of Week 7 against the Cowboys.

    Pierce was injured on a kickoff return in the fourth quarter and was taken to the locker room almost immediately following the ailment. No word on the nature of the injury, but Pierce would appear to be on the wrong side of questionable to return considering there is less than six minutes remaining to play in the fourth quarter. Saquon Barkley was previous deemed questionable to return with a back injury, leaving Elijah Mitchell to fill in for the remainder of the game. Pierce rushed 14 times for 47 yards and a touchdown prior to departing, adding one yard on one reception.
  • PHI Running Back #26
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    Saquon Barkley (back) is questionable to return to Week 7 against the Cowboys.

    Things seemed to be going well for the veteran back in his first game since injuring his hamstring in Week 4 until the second quarter. Barkley was in and out of the lineup through that second frame before being seen on the sideline getting his hip worked on by the training staff, with it later deemed a back issue. He continued to play through discomfort into the fourth quarter before the team deemed him questionable to return with a new injury than the one that cost him two games. Barkley looked spry during his time on the field, gaining 62 yards and a touchdown on seven carries while adding nine yards on two receptions prior to departing. Fantasy managers will want to monitor his status in the coming days. Dameon Pierce would be in line to once again operate as a borderline workhorse, should Barkley’s injury prove significant, considering the lack of depth in the backfield.