Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

A.J. Brown vs Sam LaPortaWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

A.J. Brown is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.1 PPG to Sam LaPorta's 9.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

A.J. Brown is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, A.J. Brown (12.1 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Sam LaPorta (9.7 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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WRPhiladelphia Eagles#12PPG LEADER

A.J. Brown

PPG

12.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,003

Rec TDs

Targets

121

Bye

Week 10

TEDetroit Lions#7

Sam LaPorta

PPG

9.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

489

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

A.J. Brown

Sam LaPorta

Head to Head

12.1 PPG9.7 PPG

15 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

A.J. Brown: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #12 at the position). Sam LaPorta: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #7 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE in most league formats.

A.J. Brown vs Sam LaPorta: The Full Breakdown

Comparing A.J. Brown (WR, Philadelphia Eagles) against Sam LaPorta (TE, Detroit Lions) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. A.J. Brown averaged 12.1 PPG in 2025 over 15 games, while Sam LaPorta posted 9.7 PPG across 9 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

A.J. Brown has his bye in Week 10, Sam LaPorta in Week 6. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: A.J. Brown (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Sam LaPorta (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•A.J. Brown outscored Sam LaPorta by a projected 41 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•A.J. Brown played 15 games in 2025 compared to Sam LaPorta's 9. That durability gap means A.J. Brown contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•A.J. Brown scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•A.J. Brown saw 121 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

A.J. Brown vs Sam LaPorta: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	A.J. Brown	Sam LaPorta
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.1	9.7
Games Played	15	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	182	87
Receptions	78	40
Rec/Game	5.2	4.4
Receiving Yards	1,003	489
Rec Yds/Game	66.9	54.3
Receiving TDs	7	3
Targets	121	49
Target Share/Game	8.1	5.4
Age	28	25
Experience	6 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 6

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor A.J. Brown at 12.1 PPG, 2.4 points per game above Sam LaPorta's 9.7. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start A.J. Brown or Sam LaPorta in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, A.J. Brown has the edge at 12.1 PPG compared to Sam LaPorta's 9.7 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did A.J. Brown and Sam LaPorta average in 2025?▾

A.J. Brown averaged 12.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Sam LaPorta averaged 9.7 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 2.4 points per game.

When are A.J. Brown and Sam LaPorta's bye weeks in 2026?▾

A.J. Brown (PHI) has a bye in Week 10, and Sam LaPorta (DET) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.