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TE Sam LaPorta, DET (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Faust
- Start date
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
The Frankman
Footballguy
I'm getting this guy in like the 10th-11th round on Yahoo! mock 14 teamers so far, I feel like no one is reacting to him draftwise because I feel like he gets little press.
JohnnyU
Footballguy
What about Tucker Kraft?
Alex P Keaton
Footballguy
Possibly. Although I wouldn’t extrapolate based on Yahoo leagues personally.
Musgrave was the guy I was more excited about pre-draft and he's been getting most of the buzz lately. Should be the week 1 starter.
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
That's interesting. National media outlets who never turned up in Allen Park are coming around this year. LaPorta has been a star almost daily. Local beats are def talking him up, as is MCDC and the coaches in their press conferences.
As others have noted, it is super rare for rookie TEs to return value. About once every 15 years or so you get a Shockey or a PItts (might be forgetting one other.) Just doesn't happen. But LaPorta functions as a WR in many respects. Won't know until we see actual games but it sure seems like they are moving him around the formation [more] than they did Hock.
You really need to garner about 95 or more targets to be considered a TE1 FF prospect. Bare minimum is around 23 routes run per game. I don't know if we should expect LaPorta to have that much trust Day 1 but he sure looks the part so far.
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Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Not great for fantasy but the Lions must love it. They can play those two in 12 personnel with St Brown and Gibbs, which could create some matchup problems for opposing defenses.
Faust
MVP
Dwain McFarland
TE Sam LaPorta is the clear No. 1 in Detroit
The rookie rested with the starters in Week 2 after delivering a 75% route participation on three drives in Week 1.
The last 2 rookie TEs to reach 75%: Evan Engram (TE4) and Kyle Pitts (TE11).
Outlook: low-end TE1
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Lions had an intense full pad, tackling to the ground intrasquad scrimmage yesterday with pumped in crowd noise. Mostly 1st team offense v 1st team defense, 2s v the 2s, and all the 3s and 4s not getting reps. Defense got points for punts/stops/turnovers and dominated 63-27. With ARSB still nursing an injury (not serious - he’ll be ready), LaPorta was the most heavily targeted receiver by a good margin.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I know your schtick is to be overly hyperbolic about every player on the Lions roster but there is no way that’s the floor for a rookie TE (not to mention you think they’ll have two TE1s on their roster). LaPorta at best would be the third option in the passing game, and the reality is he’ll likely be 4th or 5th or worse.
He’s an exciting player for dynasty and maybe worth a flier in redraft when that’s all that’s left in the TE pool - and he may well finish as a Top 10 by default if things play out like last season but the guy’s floor is considerably lower than that.
I don't even think he's all that exciting for the dynasty and according to MX the lions are going to have 8000 passing yards this way on their way to 16-0
I would take any amount of action you want to give that LaPorta will not get at least 700 yards. He is easily their #2 or #3 option behind ARSB and maybe Raymond.
ARSB...1250 yards
Raymond....700 yards
LaPorta.....700 yards
Jamo.....700 yards
Reynolds.....500 yards
Gibbs....550 recieving yards..850 rushing yards
Goff is going throw for about 4800 yards.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
Where’s Mitchell? You said he’s a low end TE1 or high end TE2 in this offense as well, so he must be stealing some of those yards.
Dr. Octopus
Footballguy
I’d take the under but you’d probably get much better odds taking the over on a Sportsbook. I haven’t checked but my guess is their over/under total is lower than 700 yards.
Honestly those numbers are probably closer to his ceiling than his floor - and that’s not an insult. That would be a great season for any TE, let alone a rookie.
Terpman22
Footballguy
Marvin Jones is that buried on the depth chart?
J Giles Band
Footballguy
I like LaPorta... and while I agree those numbers are within the realm of possibility... that is his ceiling. Not his floor.
And while Jameson has a non-zero chance of gaining 700 yards (after 40 last year)... it is pretty close to that. Take the under.
But hey, go Lions! Bask in it... you're undefeated right now. You've only been waiting your entire life, right?
BobbyLayne
Footballguy
Jones will be a deep threat guy to keep the safeties honest, along with Raymond. But the Lions offense will be built around short- to medium- routes, with only the occasional deep shot mixed in when it's open. He should be on the list, but I doubt he winds up with more yards than any of those listed (probably similar to Reynolds).
I like LaPorta, I absolutely believe he could be a low-end TE1 this season, especially if Jameson doesn't take a step, but 700-6 as a floor is silly. Kelce and Andrews are probably the entire list of TEs with floors that high. 700-6 would have been TE6 last season, and its very possible Hockenson's usage and Kittle's TDs take hits.
IMHO...yes. He is a lot like Golladay in that he does not get separation but is an incredible contested catch guy. Gunslinger QBs like Stafford will make those tight window throws. Goff does not. I do not see Marvin being targeted much by Goff. Maybe he overtakes Reynolds, but Goff has a trust in Reynolds he has not built with marvin yet.
Winning IS Everything
Footballguy
I love LaPorta, and drafted him to be my eventual Kelce replacement. He is a rookie though, and does have other TE and eventually Jameson Williams to fight with for targets.
Floor: 350 yds and 3 TD
Ceiling: 750 yds and 7 TDs
Actual projection: in the middle, about 45 rec 550 yds and 4 or 5 TDs.
Floor: 350 yds and 3 TD
Ceiling: 750 yds and 7 TDs
Actual projection: in the middle, about 45 rec 550 yds and 4 or 5 TDs.
BigTex
Don't mess with Texas
I'm surprised this has not been posted: https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/george-kittle-impressed-with-sam-laporta
Kittle on LaPorta (they worked out together this offseason):
“When you train with someone, whether it’s in the weight room or running routes with them, things I look for is when you’re running, do you have a forward lean? Can you get out and you’re still accelerating through 10 yards? Or do you stand straight up and you look like a brick wall moving slowly? A lot of people look like that, so he’s got a nice forward lean, and he’s got great hips, if we’re being honest.”
Coach Ben Johnson:
“As a coaching staff, we’re very much, you need to earn your stripes. So you saw in the spring time, he got minimal work with the first time. He’s earned the right now to be in that first team huddle with Jared and the offensive line. He’s proven that over the course of the spring time and the work that he’s put in.”
Dan Campbell:
“To have LaPorta and somebody like Gibbs who hopefully develop – it does, and I think it’s – in some sense, it’s a quarterback’s best friend. When you have a halfback and a tight end that can win for you, I just think that, usually the throws are a little bit easier. They’re bigger targets or there’s a lot of separation depending on athlete versus athlete. So, yeah, I think that’s a fair assessment, and certainly, we’re always going to run the ball. I mean, that’s what it starts with, with us. Our foundation is built off of our offensive line. It always will be, and then we work from the ground up from there.”
Also, he posted elite athletic numbers at the combine with Freak, Agility, and Explosion scores all above the 85th percentile. This combination of athleticism and production gave him BSS comps that include last year’s trendy TEs, Greg Dulcich and Trey McBride, plus Aaron Hernandez, one of the biggest instant-impact TEs of the last couple decades.
Tex
Kittle on LaPorta (they worked out together this offseason):
“When you train with someone, whether it’s in the weight room or running routes with them, things I look for is when you’re running, do you have a forward lean? Can you get out and you’re still accelerating through 10 yards? Or do you stand straight up and you look like a brick wall moving slowly? A lot of people look like that, so he’s got a nice forward lean, and he’s got great hips, if we’re being honest.”
Coach Ben Johnson:
“As a coaching staff, we’re very much, you need to earn your stripes. So you saw in the spring time, he got minimal work with the first time. He’s earned the right now to be in that first team huddle with Jared and the offensive line. He’s proven that over the course of the spring time and the work that he’s put in.”
Dan Campbell:
“To have LaPorta and somebody like Gibbs who hopefully develop – it does, and I think it’s – in some sense, it’s a quarterback’s best friend. When you have a halfback and a tight end that can win for you, I just think that, usually the throws are a little bit easier. They’re bigger targets or there’s a lot of separation depending on athlete versus athlete. So, yeah, I think that’s a fair assessment, and certainly, we’re always going to run the ball. I mean, that’s what it starts with, with us. Our foundation is built off of our offensive line. It always will be, and then we work from the ground up from there.”
Also, he posted elite athletic numbers at the combine with Freak, Agility, and Explosion scores all above the 85th percentile. This combination of athleticism and production gave him BSS comps that include last year’s trendy TEs, Greg Dulcich and Trey McBride, plus Aaron Hernandez, one of the biggest instant-impact TEs of the last couple decades.
Tex
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Scooby1974
Footballguy
If this kid is the physical freak and real deal, it sounds like he could put up WR2 type numbers as the clear TE1 in Detroit. Do we even know if Jameson will play this year?
Why is that even a question? Jameson will be back week 7 and playing.
Leroy Hoard
Footballguy
Another reporter that totally ignores Kalif Raymond, one of Goff's favorite targets.
The Frankman
Footballguy
You people need to stop talking about this guy so I can continue to nab him in Yahoo! mocks north of 160+ ADP.
I'M LOOKING AT YOU FAUST!!!
I'M LOOKING AT YOU FAUST!!!
Jacob's Ladder
Footballguy
He's going to be cheap in your draft regardless. He's got all the tools to be a great TE in the league. I'm a buyer in dynasty, taking flyers in redraft/keeper leagues as well. He has serious WR skills and can block. He will be something, maybe this year, maybe not.
Scooby1974
Footballguy
Could he put up 800 and 8? Detroit just doesn't have much else going.
Scooby1974
Footballguy
So you're saying there's a chance!
Detroit had a top 5 O last year, same QB, less at WR......I love it! LOL
JoeKappBudGrant
Footballguy
The top 8 all played in the NFC. For yards and TD's, I like the look of John Mackey's numbers-----I say Sam goes for 725 and 7.
Timmay
Footballguy
I'm in. Love this kid from TE U. Got him last night in the 17th round of a 12 teamer.
I'm thinking 850 yards with 10 TD's. He is going to be the go-to target at the goaline. Spread those 17 TD's from Jamaal Williams + 12 TD's from Detroit TE's last year out between Laporta and Montgomery.
I'm thinking 850 yards with 10 TD's. He is going to be the go-to target at the goaline. Spread those 17 TD's from Jamaal Williams + 12 TD's from Detroit TE's last year out between Laporta and Montgomery.
Top 3 TE numbers
Da Guru
Fair & Balanced
Hard to believe Pitts had 68 catches and over 1K yards, with only 1 TD as a TE.
Gibbs is going to get some redzone work.. he is too good to keep off the field.
And ASB is going to get a lot of those TD's. He was the #2 WR targeted in the redzone on a per game basis in the NFL, Goff looks his ways all the time. He was also tackled an absurd 7x inside the 5yd line last year, and 5 of those were on the 1 yd line which is how Jamal Williams fell into endzone 5 times.
I think a realistic potential for Sam La Porta is more like Evan Engram's rookie year, which is still awesome
64 rec 722 yards 6 tds
Maybe closer to 70 receptions in that offense
gucci little piggy
Footballguy
Anyone have the balls/misfortune to start LaPorta tonight? And if so, who are you putting him in over?
I've been waffling between LaPorta and Juwan, but starting to lean towards getting Sam in there. I think I'll do a bunch of back-and-forth Ruxin-esque tinkering with these two today.
I've been waffling between LaPorta and Juwan, but starting to lean towards getting Sam in there. I think I'll do a bunch of back-and-forth Ruxin-esque tinkering with these two today.
I’m thinking about it. it’s between the likes of LaPorta/Dulcich/Okonkwo/Kmet/Schultz
For me Dulcich or LaPorta. I still believe in the usage we heard about for Dulcich
He’s my only option if Kittle can’t go so I’m loving the Thursday decision.
Winning IS Everything
Footballguy
I am likely starting LaPorta over Kelce if he sits. Deep keeper league so dropping LaPorta is NOT an option.
nittanylion
Footballguy
LFG, Sammy boy!!!
JoeSteeler
Footballguy
With Kelce out need to go with JuJu or LaPorta in TEP
