George Kittle vs Sam LaPorta: Who Should You Start?
Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers) finished the 2025 season averaging 12.1 fantasy points per game in 11 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.
George Kittle carries a 2.4-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.
George Kittle is the volume tight end in this matchup with 57 receptions for 628 yards, while Sam LaPorta profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (3 scores on 40 catches). In weeks where Sam LaPorta finds the end zone he out-scores George Kittle, but the floor gap is real.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: George Kittle sits Week 9 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.
