Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cole Kmet vs Sam LaPortaWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Sam LaPorta is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.7 PPG to Cole Kmet's 4.0 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. Cole Kmet (4.0 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Sam LaPorta as the starter and Cole Kmet as depth.

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

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TEChicago Bears#99

Cole Kmet

PPG

4.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

347

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

TEDetroit Lions#7PPG LEADER

Sam LaPorta

PPG

9.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

489

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Cole Kmet

Sam LaPorta

Head to Head

4.0 PPG9.7 PPG

16 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Cole Kmet: 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, Cole Kmet is producing at 18% 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.

Cole Kmet vs Sam LaPorta: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Cole Kmet (Chicago Bears) finished the 2025 season averaging 4.0 fantasy points per game in 16 games. Sam LaPorta (Detroit Lions) came in at 9.7 PPG over 9 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Sam LaPorta carries a 5.7-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Cole Kmet had 30 catches for 347 yards; Sam LaPorta posted 40 for 489. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

Cole Kmet has his bye in Week 7, and Sam LaPorta rests in Week 6. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Sam LaPorta at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Cole Kmet is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Cole Kmet (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 Cole Kmet by a projected 97 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Cole Kmet played 16 games in 2025 compared to Sam LaPorta's 9. That durability gap means Cole Kmet 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

Cole Kmet vs Sam LaPorta: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cole Kmet	Sam LaPorta
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	9.7
Games Played	16	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	64	87
Receptions	30	40
Rec/Game	1.9	4.4
Receiving Yards	347	489
Rec Yds/Game	21.7	54.3
Receiving TDs	2	3
Targets	48	49
Target Share/Game	3.0	5.4
Age	27	25
Experience	6 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 6

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Sam LaPorta holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 9.7 points per game. Cole Kmet averaged 4.0 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Cole Kmet or Sam LaPorta in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Sam LaPorta has the edge at 9.7 PPG compared to Cole Kmet's 4.0 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 Cole Kmet and Sam LaPorta average in 2025?▾

Cole Kmet averaged 4.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Sam LaPorta averaged 9.7 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 5.7 points per game.

When are Cole Kmet and Sam LaPorta's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cole Kmet (CHI) has a bye in Week 7, and Sam LaPorta (DET) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cole Kmet or Sam LaPorta a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Sam LaPorta outscored Cole Kmet by 5.7 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.