Sam LaPorta vs Tyler Higbee: Who Should You Start?
Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Sam LaPorta (Detroit Lions) finished the 2025 season averaging 9.7 fantasy points per game in 9 games. Tyler Higbee (Los Angeles Rams) came in at 5.9 PPG over 10 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.
Sam LaPorta carries a 3.8-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.
Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Sam LaPorta had 40 catches for 489 yards; Tyler Higbee posted 25 for 281. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.
One scheduling note: Sam LaPorta is off Week 5 and Tyler Higbee Week 6. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.
