Sam LaPorta

Week 16 @ Chicago Bears
Sam LaPorta had been a little more touchdown-dependent than we had thought heading into the season, eclipsing 50 yards on only four games all year while falling below 30 on five occasions. That was until his massive 10-target, 7-111-0 performance last week, which was a breath of fresh air for fantasy managers. The Bears defense has been a bright spot in a disappointing season, but they do rank 21st in TE aFPA, which hints toward another high-usage matchup for the tight end. Consider him a locked-in TE1 with upside for an overall TE1 finish in Week 16.

Week 14 vs. Green Bay Packers
We expected a little more out of Sam LaPorta with Jameson Williams sidelined, but it didn't quite come to fruition as he scored a moderate 8.8 points per game. After missing Week 11 himself, he dropped a disappointing 3.4 half-PPR points, the fifth time he has fallen below 5.0 points this season. In true unpredictable nature, he then followed that up with two touchdowns and 14.1 half-PPR points, though he accrued only six total yards, for one of the whackier stat lines of the year. Fire him up again against a Packers defense ranking 26th in TE aFPA.

Week 12 @ Detroit Lions
We expected a little more out of Sam LaPorta with Jameson Williams sidelined, but it didn't quite come to fruition as he scored a moderate 8.8 points per game. After missing Week 11, he's back on the TE1 radar against a Colts defense that ranks 30th in TE aFPA. It's been more than frustrating for managers of the sophomore, but he should be plugged in ahead of streamers in Week 12.