Michael Pittman Jr. or Sam LaPorta: Who Should You Start?

Preliminary board

2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Verdicts sharpen as practice reports land.

LaPorta wins cleanly once Pittman’s foot injury removes the alternative

Pittman is ruled out, so this is a status call rather than a debate over his matchup or talent; Yahoo Sports (Steelers Wire) 2026-09-21 reported that Mike McCarthy remained unsure about his availability. LaPorta offers the safer play as Detroit’s full-time receiving tight end in a much stronger scoring environment, while the Jets DvP result is a zero-confidence two-game sample. His real risk is a second-half run-heavy script if Detroit’s expected control produces an early lead.

What flips it: Pittman is cleared to play.

Sources: Yahoo Sports (Steelers Wire) · Sep 21, 2026 · ESPN · Sep 19, 2026

AI editor

Michael Pittman Jr.

Michael Pittman Jr.

WR32PITvs CIN

Projected Points

OUT — verdict voidSit
Sam LaPorta

Sam LaPorta

TE8DETvs NYJ

Projected Points

Start· medium

Michael Pittman Jr.’s market

ATD
Anytime TD
+450
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Sam LaPorta’s market

ATD
Anytime TD
+185
Anytime Touchdown Props →
CIN@
PITSun, Sep 27, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
NYJ@
DETSun, Sep 27, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Michael Pittman Jr.

Sit

WR2 and high-volume possession target. Big-bodied contested-catch winner over the middle and in the red zone.

Ruled out — verdict void; pivot to your bench.

  • Pittman’s WR2 role and contested-catch skill would matter if active, but the foot injury makes his projection unusable.
  • His positive steps reported by Yahoo Sports (Steelers Wire) 2026-09-21 are not enough to overcome the ruled-out status.

Latest on Pittman

Status

Head coach Mike McCarthy confirmed Pittman's current foot injury is a new injury, not a recurrence of his training camp issue, and said he is unsure if Pittman will be able to play in Week 3 against the Bengals despite Pittman making 'positive steps forward.'

Yahoo Sports (Steelers Wire) · Sep 21, 2026
Steelers rule out WR Pittman Jr. vs. Patriots with foot injury

The Steelers will be without another starter for their Week 2 game against the Patriots after downgrading wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to out with a foot injury.

ESPN · Sep 19, 2026
Joey Porter Jr. out again for Steelers; WR Pittman questionable

The Steelers will be without top cornerback Joey Porter Jr. again amid their contentious contract negotiation. Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) and offensive tackle Troy Fautanu (ankle) are questionable to play.

ESPN · Sep 18, 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.

TE8 with a 90% snap share and 20% target share on a 27.5-point implied total — the scary Jets DvP rank is a 2-game, zero-confidence sample.

  • LaPorta’s every-down role and seam usage give him a sturdier floor than a matchup rank built on two games.
  • Detroit’s strong scoring outlook supports his red-zone and intermediate-target role, even if late-game volume fades.

The call

  • Role is locked: 90% snap share and a 20% target share through two games make LaPorta the clear pass-game hub, and TE8 consensus with 11.2 projected points beats any realistic 12-team replacement.
  • The Jets' No. 2-of-32 DvP mark vs tight ends looks ugly, but it's built on a 2-game sample with 0.00 confidence — not enough to bench a locked-in starter.
  • Detroit's 27.5 implied total and -9.5 spread mean plenty of offensive snaps; the risk is a blowout script that shifts volume to the run game late.
  • No injury designation, so there's no availability concern attached to the call.

Head-to-head stats

MetricMichael Pittman Jr.Sam LaPorta
Projected points
Consensus rankWR32TE8
Opponent vs positionCIN · 11 of 322-game sampleNYJ · 2 of 322-game sample
Receptions13 of 324 of 32
Receiving Yards14 of 323 of 32
Receiving TDs1 of 321 of 32
Targets25 of 323 of 32
Anytime TD1 of 321 of 32
Target share8%20%
Reception share13%21%
Implied total · spread22.5+1.527.5-9.5
Depth chartWR2TE1
Snap share88%90%
Injury designationOut—
Start/Sit record0–11–1

Recent form

Michael Pittman Jr. — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs NE
Week 1vs ATL

Sam LaPorta — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs BUF
Week 1vs NO

Signal breakdown

  • 11.4 vs 11.2 projected PPR pointsMichael Pittman Jr. +
  • Rank 32 vs 8Sam LaPorta +
  • Opponent DvP rank 11 vs 2 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 22.5 vs 27.5 team pointsSam LaPorta +
  • A ruled-out player cannot be a startSam LaPorta +
  • 88% vs 90% snap shareSam LaPorta +

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