Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cade Stover vs Sam LaPortaWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Sam LaPorta is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.7 PPG to Cade Stover's 3.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Sam LaPorta is the better fantasy play this season.

Sam LaPorta is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 9.7 PPG and 489 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Cade Stover (3.5 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Sam LaPorta as the starter and Cade Stover as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TEHouston Texans#99

Cade Stover

PPG

3.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

215

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

TEDetroit Lions#7PPG LEADER

Sam LaPorta

PPG

9.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

489

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Cade Stover

Sam LaPorta

Head to Head

3.5 PPG9.7 PPG

15 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Cade Stover: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Sam LaPorta: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #7 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Cade Stover is producing at 16% of elite pace and Sam LaPorta at 44%. That ranking gap means Sam LaPorta carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Cade Stover vs Sam LaPorta: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two tight ends. Sam LaPorta (Detroit Lions) averaged 9.7 PPG over 9 games in 2025, outscoring Cade Stover (Houston Texans, 3.5 PPG) by 6.2 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 6.2-PPG gap gives Sam LaPorta the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Sam LaPorta is the volume tight end in this matchup with 40 receptions for 489 yards, while Cade Stover profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 22 catches). In weeks where Cade Stover finds the end zone he out-scores Sam LaPorta, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Cade Stover is off Week 14 and Sam LaPorta Week 6. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Sam LaPorta at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Cade Stover is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Cade Stover (age 27) 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?

•Sam LaPorta outscored Cade Stover by a projected 105 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Cade Stover played 15 games in 2025 compared to Sam LaPorta's 9. That durability gap means Cade Stover contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Sam LaPorta scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Sam LaPorta saw 49 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cade Stover vs Sam LaPorta: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cade Stover	Sam LaPorta
PPG (Half-PPR)	3.5	9.7
Games Played	15	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	53	87
Receptions	22	40
Rec/Game	1.5	4.4
Receiving Yards	215	489
Rec Yds/Game	14.3	54.3
Receiving TDs	1	3
Targets	32	49
Target Share/Game	2.1	5.4
Age	-	25
Experience	-	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 6

Summary

Sam LaPorta outscored Cade Stover by 6.2 PPG in 2025 (9.7 to 3.5). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Cade Stover or Sam LaPorta in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Sam LaPorta has the edge at 9.7 PPG compared to Cade Stover's 3.5 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 Cade Stover and Sam LaPorta average in 2025?▾

Cade Stover averaged 3.5 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 6.2 points per game.

When are Cade Stover and Sam LaPorta's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cade Stover (HOU) has a bye in Week 14, and Sam LaPorta (DET) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cade Stover or Sam LaPorta a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Sam LaPorta outscored Cade Stover by 6.2 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.