Sam LaPorta enters his second season of the league with the Detroit Lions, breaking the tight end touchdown record after a breakout year in 2023. The former Iowa Hawkeye is entering his second season, having 889 receiving yards, 86 receptions, and 10 touchdowns in 2023.
Last year, LaPorta finished as a top-5 tight end of the league due to the genius Detriot Lions’ offensive game planning. After fully recovering from a heel injury, he is ready to have another spectacular season in this Ben Johnson offense. LaPorta is emerging to become one of the best tight ends right now and could do more this upcoming season.
Could Sam LaPorta break a 1,000-receiving yard season and become a top-five tight end in 2024 for the Detroit Lions?
Sam LaPorta 2023 Stats and Fantasy Production
LaPorta played in 17 games last year with Detroit, making 86 receptions from 120 targets for 889 yards and recording 10 touchdowns. He also had a 71% catch rate making him a reliable target for the Lions’ offensive system.
In 2023, Sam LaPorta has gotten 153.3 fantasy points, averaging 9.0 points per game. He was one of the key cogs of the Lions’ offense and was useful during a breakout offensive year. LaPorta got hurt during the Week 18 matchup against the Vikings with a leg injury but performed in the playoffs. He had 27 targets, receiving 21 of them, for 176 yards, with one touchdown.
Sam LaPorta 2024 Fantasy Outlook
LaPorta will enter the season fully healthy and on a team 20 minutes away from a Super Bowl appearance. Last season, LaPorta came out of nowhere with the Lions’ offensive system and became a key weapon for Jared Goff. While there is a chance he could be limited, he will still be a weapon for the offense. If things go well and plays the full season, he will have 1,000 yards this season. LaPorta’s workload will be a lot for a Lions team with a handful of playmakers but might, have another great season.
According to Fantasy Pros, LaPorta is projected as the 22nd overall pick and the 1st tight end off the board. In Full PPR his ADP is 22nd overall and the number one highest-drafted tight end. In Half PPR, LaPorta is projected as the 22nd pick and the highest-drafted tight end, on fantasy drafts.
Entering 2024, this author projects LaPorta to accumulate 1000-1200 total yards, 80-90 receptions, and 15-20 touchdowns. He is projected as an early second or third-round pick in season-long and full PPR leagues. Sam LaPorta will have a lot of targets due to defenses covering Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jameson Williams giving leniency. The Lions will depend on LaPorta for short-yard gains and touchdowns. Sam LaPorta will be fully healthy and could be a top-five tight this coming season.
Final Thoughts
LaPorta will be 23 entering the season and emerging as a star for the Lions offense. His recent ankle injury will cast doubts on a fully healthy season potentially limiting him for now. There is a great chance he could be one of the best tight ends if he has another great season.
LaPorta had an amazing season last year, with this offense going with his strengths. He broke out, along with an emerging number-one receiver, and a quarterback becoming a top-tier thrower. This year, not only will he have more targets, and flexibility in this improving offense. Sam LaPorta will have an amazing season being fully healthy and with a confident Lions team for 2024.
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Jordan Ramos is an aspiring sports writer and has been an avid sports fan of over four sports leagues in the New York City metro area for over 15 years to 20 years, and is a journalism graduate of Brooklyn College studying various amounts of news, politics, and sports media. Check out all the great content Total Apex Sports has to offer. Check us out on X @TotalApexSports and our other sites: Total Apex Sports Bets and Total Apex Fantasy Sports.
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