Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Rashee Rice vs Sam LaPortaWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.5 PPG to Sam LaPorta's 9.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Rashee Rice (15.5 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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WRKansas City Chiefs#5PPG LEADER

Rashee Rice

PPG

15.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

571

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

TEDetroit Lions#7

Sam LaPorta

PPG

9.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

489

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Rashee Rice

Sam LaPorta

Head to Head

15.5 PPG9.7 PPG

8 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Rashee Rice: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #5 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) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE in most league formats.

Rashee Rice vs Sam LaPorta: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Rashee Rice (WR, Kansas City Chiefs) against Sam LaPorta (TE, Detroit Lions) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Rashee Rice averaged 15.5 PPG in 2025 over 8 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.

Rashee Rice has his bye in Week 5, Sam LaPorta in Week 6. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Rashee Rice is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Sam LaPorta is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Rashee Rice (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Sam LaPorta (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Rashee Rice outscored Sam LaPorta by a projected 99 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Sam LaPorta played 9 games in 2025 compared to Rashee Rice's 8. That durability gap means Sam LaPorta contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Rashee Rice scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Rashee Rice saw 78 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Rashee Rice vs Sam LaPorta: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Rashee Rice	Sam LaPorta
PPG (Half-PPR)	15.5	9.7
Games Played	8	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	124	87
Receptions	53	40
Rec/Game	6.6	4.4
Receiving Yards	571	489
Rec Yds/Game	71.4	54.3
Receiving TDs	5	3
Targets	78	49
Target Share/Game	9.8	5.4
Age	26	25
Experience	2 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 6

Summary

15.5 PPG for Rashee Rice versus 9.7 for Sam LaPorta in 2025. The baseline favors Rashee Rice, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Rashee Rice or Sam LaPorta in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Rashee Rice has the edge at 15.5 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 Rashee Rice and Sam LaPorta average in 2025?▾

Rashee Rice averaged 15.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Sam LaPorta averaged 9.7 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 5.8 points per game.

When are Rashee Rice and Sam LaPorta's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Rashee Rice (KC) has a bye in Week 5, and Sam LaPorta (DET) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.