Evan Engram vs Sam LaPorta: Who Should You Start?
Evan Engram and Sam LaPorta are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Evan Engram averaged 4.9 PPG across 16 games with the Denver Broncos, while Sam LaPorta posted 9.7 PPG in 9 appearances for the Detroit Lions.
A 4.8-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.
Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Evan Engram had 50 catches for 461 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.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Evan Engram sits Week 14 while Sam LaPorta is off Week 5. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
