Michael Mayer vs Sam LaPorta: Who Should You Start?
If you are choosing between Michael Mayer and Sam LaPorta for your lineup, you are not alone. Michael Mayer finished the 2025 season at 4.3 PPG for the Las Vegas Raiders (13 games), and Sam LaPorta averaged 9.7 for the Detroit Lions (9 games).
That 5.4-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. Michael Mayer had 35 catches for 328 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: Michael Mayer sits Week 10 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.
