Sam

LaPorta

It would’ve been an abysmal day for LaPorta and his fantasy managers if it had not been for his two touchdowns. LaPorta found the end zone on a three-yard touchdown early in the second quarter and was on the receiving end of a one-yard score late in the third quarter. LaPorta has seen six targets in each of his last three games, but the production just hasn’t been there for the promising young tight end as of late. The two touchdowns were nice, but hopefully LaPorta can do a bit more with his volume in Week 14 against the Packers, where he feels like a boom-or-bust TE1.

It was a good news/bad news outing for LaPorta, who matched his season high for targets but was held under 20 yards for the first time since Week 2. It’s also bad news, of course, that his season high for looks is only six. Whether it is injury or target competition, it just isn’t happening for LaPorta this season, who will probably struggle to provide short-week TE1 returns against the Bears on Thanksgiving.

LaPorta is good to go, as expected. The second-year tight end has finished as a TE1 in three of his last five games and can be safely started as such with six teams on bye in Week 12.

As expected, LaPorta practiced in full for the second consecutive day. The Lions’ brilliant handling of his shoulder injury last week helped ready LaPorta for a full workload against the Colts’ paltry tight end-coverage unit. He is a locked-in TE1 for Week 12.

The Lions closed Week 11 as double-digit home favorites and smartly allowed LaPorta to take the full week off, opting not to rush him back for an easily winnable game. The move paid off; LaPorta’s full Wednesday availability puts him firmly on track to suit up as a TE1 in Week 12.

The Lions allowed LaPorta to rest throughout the week, opting not to rush him back for a game in which they are currently favored by 14.0 points. Whether LaPorta could have played through the pain remains unknown but for now, fantasy managers should be heartened by the conservative approach. Brock Wright becomes a touchdown-dependent streaming option in LaPorta’s stead.

LaPorta could still play if he is able to practice on Friday but at this point, fantasy managers need to make a reliable backup plan. Tight ends from teams that were recently on bye may be available in free agency. Move swiftly.

Per head coach Dan Campbell, LaPorta remains day to day with the sprained AC joint he suffered in Week 10 against the Texans. LaPorta left the game in the second half and did not return. The second-year tight end does appear to be at risk of missing Week 11, though he is luckily not dealing with a long-term issue. Brock Wright would draw the start if LaPorta can’t suit up. He would be a touchdown-or-bust TE2 versus the Jags.

He’ll be “day to day,” per Campbell. We’ll probably need to see some practice statuses before we have a good handle on his Week 11 status, but it is encouraging that Campbell has not seemed too concerned about LaPorta’s status going forward. Fantasy managers that haven’t already disgustedly tossed LaPorta off their rosters may need to consider backup plans for Week 11, but LaPorta’s shoulder injury doesn’t look likely to be a long term issue. It may not even be a short-term one.

LaPorta exited in the third quarter of Sunday’s win against the Texans after hauling in a 37-yard pass. Campbell does not appear overly concerned about LaPorta’s injury, but a one-game absence could be in store for the second-year tight end. We’ve seen other players play through a similar injury, so it’s too early to rule him out just yet. His name will be one to watch on this week’s injury report.