Jake Tonges vs Sam LaPorta: Who Should You Start?
If you are choosing between Jake Tonges and Sam LaPorta for your lineup, you are not alone. Jake Tonges finished the 2025 season at 4.5 PPG for the San Francisco 49ers (17 games), and Sam LaPorta averaged 9.7 for the Detroit Lions (9 games).
That 5.2-point weekly advantage for Sam LaPorta is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.
Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Jake Tonges had 34 catches for 293 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: Jake Tonges 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.
