Davante Adams or Sam LaPorta: Who Should You Start?

Preliminary board

2026 Week 1 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Verdicts sharpen as practice reports land.

Adams' target role meets LaPorta's snap advantage, leaving health as the hinge

Adams has the stronger target-driven floor and a favorable scoring environment, but his WR2 slot and 71% participation keep the edge from becoming comfortable. LaPorta counters with an every-down role and a more favorable team script; at tight end, that reliable deployment matters, provided he clears his questionable tag. Start either in PPR, with Adams' crowded receiver room the clearest risk and LaPorta's availability the decisive one.

What flips it: LaPorta being ruled out.

Sources: therams.com · Sep 7, 2026 · Sports Illustrated (Lions On SI) · Sep 6, 2026

AI editor

Davante Adams

Davante Adams

WR19LARvs SF

Projected Points

Start· high
Sam LaPorta

Sam LaPorta

TE6DETvs NO

Projected Points

Start· medium

Why Davante Adams

Start· high

Veteran starting WR2 and red-zone weapon. Elite release package and route separation with All-Pro-caliber pedigree.

24% target share and a 25.8 implied total as a 3-point favorite make Adams a locked-in WR2 despite the nominal WR-2 label.

  • His red-zone résumé gives the Rams' strong scoring outlook more practical value than the nominal WR2 label suggests.
  • The Rams retained a crowded wideout room, so Adams' target share must survive real competition.

The call

  • A 24% target share across 14 games is alpha-level volume — the WR-2 depth slot is a formation label, not a usage cap.
  • 13.8 projected points at WR21 with no injury designation is a floor most 12-team PPR benches can't match.
  • Team implied total of 25.8 as a 3-point favorite means enough scoring volume to support multiple touchdown-equity looks.
  • The DvP composite (18 of 32) is drawn from a 0-game sample with 0.00 confidence, so treat the matchup as neutral rather than a reason to bench.

Latest on Adams

Role

Davante Adams is part of a Rams wide receiver room that retained all six wideouts from last season's initial 53-man roster and added rookie CJ Daniels.

From the Podium: Sean McVay, Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams discuss Rams' preparations for Week 1 in Australia against 49erstherams.com · Sep 6, 2026
Matthew Stafford and Davante Adams looking forward to building on connection shown over second half of 2025 season and throughout training camp heading into 2026 season

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Davante Adams looked in sync throughout this summer in a way that resembled their connection during the second half of last season.

therams.com · Sep 6, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Sam LaPorta

Start· medium

TE1 and pass-catching mismatch. Reliable seam and intermediate target when healthy.

TE6 at 11.0 projected with a 91% snap share and 17% target share in a 27.8-point implied offense — start him if he clears his questionable tag.

  • His listed TE1 role supports dependable route involvement rather than a touchdown-dependent fantasy profile.
  • Detroit's updated depth chart confirms his starting role, but the questionable tag makes pregame clarity essential.

The call

  • Role is locked in: 91% snap share and a 17% target share over nine games make him Detroit's clear No. 1 tight end, and the depth chart confirms the starting job.
  • Game environment is a plus — 27.8 implied team total as a 7-point favorite means plenty of scoring chances, and LaPorta is a red-zone piece in that offense.
  • The DvP composite of 13 of 32 comes off a 0-game sample with 0.00 confidence, so it carries no real weight against a TE6 consensus rank.
  • Only real risk is the questionable designation; if he's downgraded or limited in warmups, pivot, but an active LaPorta is a clear starter over replacement TEs.

Latest on LaPorta

Role

LaPorta is listed as the starting tight end on Detroit's updated offensive depth chart ahead of the regular season.

Sports Illustrated (Lions On SI) · Sep 6, 2026
Lions safeties Branch, Joseph expected to return after PUP stints

Lions starting safeties Brian Branch (Achilles) and Kerby Joseph (knee), who will both miss the first four games of the season, are expected to return at some point, according to GM Brad Holmes

ESPN · Sep 2, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricDavante AdamsSam LaPorta
Projected points
Consensus rankWR19TE6
Opponent vs positionSF · 18 of 320-game sampleNO · 13 of 320-game sample
Receptions24 of 3214 of 32
Receiving Yards22 of 3214 of 32
Receiving TDs14 of 329 of 32
Targets16 of 3218 of 32
Anytime TD13 of 329 of 32
Target share24%(2025)17%(2025)
Reception share19%(2025)19%(2025)
Implied total · spread25.8-3.027.8-7.0
Depth chartWR2TE1
Snap share71%(2025)91%(2025)
Injury designation—Questionable

Signal breakdown

  • 13.8 vs 11.0 projected PPR pointsDavante Adams +
  • Rank 19 vs 6Sam LaPorta +
  • Opponent DvP rank 18 vs 13 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 25.8 vs 27.8 team pointsSam LaPorta +
  • no designation vs QuestionableDavante Adams +
  • 71% vs 91% snap shareSam LaPorta +

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