Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Rico Dowdle vs Sam LaPortaWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Rico Dowdle is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.6 PPG to Sam LaPorta's 9.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Rico Dowdle is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Rico Dowdle (11.6 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.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Rico Dowdle and Sam LaPorta in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

RBCarolina Panthers#21PPG LEADER

Rico Dowdle

PPG

11.6

Games

Rush Yds

1,076

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

297

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

Rico Dowdle

Sam LaPorta

Head to Head

11.6 PPG9.7 PPG

17 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Rico Dowdle: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #21 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 3 (Flex/Starter) RB is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE in most league formats.

Rico Dowdle vs Sam LaPorta: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Rico Dowdle (RB, Carolina Panthers) against Sam LaPorta (TE, Detroit Lions) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Rico Dowdle averaged 11.6 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.

Rico Dowdle 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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Rico Dowdle (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?

•Rico Dowdle outscored Sam LaPorta by a projected 32 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Rico Dowdle played 17 games in 2025 compared to Sam LaPorta's 9. That durability gap means Rico Dowdle contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Rico Dowdle scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Sam LaPorta caught 40 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Rico Dowdle vs Sam LaPorta: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Rico Dowdle	Sam LaPorta
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.6	9.7
Games Played	17	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	197	87
Rushing Yards	1,076	0
Rush Yds/Game	63.3	0.0
Rushing TDs	6	0
Receptions	39	40
Receiving Yards	297	489
Targets	50	49
Total TDs	7	3
Age	27	25
Experience	5 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 6

Summary

Rico Dowdle outscored Sam LaPorta by 1.9 PPG in 2025 (11.6 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Rico Dowdle vs Sam LaPorta

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Rico Dowdle vs Sam LaPorta

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Rico Dowdle or Sam LaPorta in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Rico Dowdle has the edge at 11.6 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 Rico Dowdle and Sam LaPorta average in 2025?▾

Rico Dowdle averaged 11.6 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 1.9 points per game.

When are Rico Dowdle and Sam LaPorta's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Rico Dowdle (CAR) 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.