Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jonathan Taylor vs Sam LaPortaWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jonathan Taylor is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 20.0 PPG to Sam LaPorta's 9.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jonathan Taylor is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Jonathan Taylor (20.0 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Sam LaPorta (9.7 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

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

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RBIndianapolis Colts#2PPG LEADER

Jonathan Taylor

PPG

20.0

Games

Rush Yds

1,585

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

378

Bye

Week 13

TEDetroit Lions#7

Sam LaPorta

PPG

9.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

489

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Jonathan Taylor

Sam LaPorta

Head to Head

20.0 PPG9.7 PPG

17 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Jonathan Taylor: Tier 1 (Elite) RB (ranked #2 at the position). Sam LaPorta: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #7 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 1 (Elite) RB is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE in most league formats.

Jonathan Taylor vs Sam LaPorta: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Jonathan Taylor (RB, Indianapolis Colts) against Sam LaPorta (TE, Detroit Lions) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Jonathan Taylor averaged 20.0 PPG in 2025 over 17 games, while Sam LaPorta posted 9.7 PPG across 9 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Jonathan Taylor has his bye in Week 13, Sam LaPorta in Week 6. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Jonathan Taylor at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Sam LaPorta is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Jonathan Taylor (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Sam LaPorta (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Jonathan Taylor outscored Sam LaPorta by a projected 175 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jonathan Taylor played 17 games in 2025 compared to Sam LaPorta's 9. That durability gap means Jonathan Taylor contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jonathan Taylor scored 20 total touchdowns in 2025 (1.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Jonathan Taylor caught 46 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jonathan Taylor vs Sam LaPorta: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jonathan Taylor	Sam LaPorta
PPG (Half-PPR)	20.0	9.7
Games Played	17	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	340	87
Rushing Yards	1,585	0
Rush Yds/Game	93.2	0.0
Rushing TDs	18	0
Receptions	46	40
Receiving Yards	378	489
Targets	55	49
Total TDs	20	3
Age	27	25
Experience	5 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 6

Summary

Jonathan Taylor outscored Sam LaPorta by 10.3 PPG in 2025 (20.0 to 9.7). 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 Jonathan Taylor or Sam LaPorta in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jonathan Taylor has the edge at 20.0 PPG compared to Sam LaPorta's 9.7 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 Jonathan Taylor and Sam LaPorta average in 2025?▾

Jonathan Taylor averaged 20.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Sam LaPorta averaged 9.7 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 10.3 points per game.

When are Jonathan Taylor and Sam LaPorta's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jonathan Taylor (IND) has a bye in Week 13, and Sam LaPorta (DET) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.