Sam LaPorta or Terrance Ferguson: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
LaPorta’s every-down role gives him the stronger floor
Start LaPorta: the projection gap is small for a tight end, but his locked-in workload and higher standing make his case sturdier. Ferguson’s lesser deployment and lower team scoring outlook leave him with less margin for a quiet stretch, even though his target involvement is useful. Ferguson can still beat the call with an explosive seam play or red-zone score; his reported ankle issue is an added risk (Yahoo Sports 2026-09-23).
What flips it: A pregame ankle downgrade for Ferguson.
Sources: Yahoo Sports · Sep 23, 2026
AI editor
Sam LaPorta
6.89.011.2 Projected Points
Terrance Ferguson
6.78.610.6 Projected Points
Sam LaPorta’s market
Terrance Ferguson’s market
Why Sam LaPorta
Start· highTE1 and pass-catching mismatch. Reliable seam and intermediate target when healthy.
TE8 with a locked-in role (90% snaps, 20% targets) on a 27.5 implied total; the tough NYJ DvP rests on a 2-game, zero-confidence sample.
- His reliable seam and intermediate routes give Detroit a dependable middle-of-field answer.
The call
- Role is as good as it gets at tight end: 90% snap share and 20% target share through 2 games, with no injury designation.
- The offense projects to score, with a 27.5 implied team total. The 11.2 PPR projection and TE8 consensus rank put him firmly in 12-team starter range.
- The matchup grades harsh at 2 of 32 vs TEs, but that composite comes from a 2-game sample with 0.00 confidence. It's noise, not a reason to bench.
- The main risk is game script. As a -9.5 favorite, Detroit could lean on the run late, which caps his ceiling but not his floor relative to replacement-level TEs.
Latest on LaPorta
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Why Terrance Ferguson
Toss-Up· lowSecond-year TE2 and athletic receiving option. Explosive seam threat with big-play efficiency and red-zone scoring value behind the starter.
18% target share and a 24.3 implied total support the start-lean, but TE22 rank, a stingy DEN matchup (8 of 32) and an ankle note cap the upside.
- His explosive seam ability and red-zone value offer a real ceiling path behind the starter.
The call
- Usage is the case for him: an 18% target share on a 55% snap share is starter-caliber volume for a tight end, and the 10.6 PPR projection reflects that.
- Game environment helps. The Rams are 3-point favorites with a 24.3 implied total, so scoring chances should be there.
- Matchup cuts the other way. DEN ranks 8 of 32 vs TEs (32 = softest), though that rests on a 2-game sample with 0.00 confidence, so weight it lightly.
- Risk: Yahoo (2026-09-23) reported he was a surprise limited participant with an ankle injury. He carries no designation now, but at TE22 he sits outside the 12-team starter tier. Start him over a streamer outside the top 15; sit him for anyone ranked there or higher.
Latest on Ferguson
Terrance Ferguson was listed as a limited participant with an ankle injury and was a surprise addition to Wednesday's injury report.
Yahoo Sports · Sep 23, 2026Odds, bets and analysis to help you bet Rams-Broncos on "Sunday Night Football."
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Sam LaPorta | Terrance Ferguson |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 6.89.011.2 | 6.78.610.6 |
| Consensus rank | TE8 | TE22 |
| Opponent vs position | NYJ · 2 of 322-game sample | DEN · 8 of 322-game sample |
| Receptions | 4 of 32 | 9 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 3 of 32 | 21 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | 1 of 32 | 1 of 32 |
| Targets | 3 of 32 | 7 of 32 |
| Anytime TD | 1 of 32 | 1 of 32 |
| Target share | 20% | 18% |
| Reception share | 21% | 15% |
| Implied total · spread | 27.5-9.5 | 24.3-3.0 |
| Depth chart | TE1 | TE2 |
| Snap share | 90% | 55% |
| Start/Sit record | 1–1 | 0–0+1 toss-up |
Recent form
Sam LaPorta — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs BUF | 11.214.217.2 |
| Week 1 | vs NO | 4.87.39.8 |
Terrance Ferguson — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs NYG | 11.414.417.4 |
| Week 1 | vs SF | 0.00.00.0 |
Signal breakdown
- 11.2 vs 10.6 projected PPR pointsSam LaPorta +
- Rank 8 vs 22Sam LaPorta +
- Opponent DvP rank 2 vs 8 (32 = softest)even
- Implied 27.5 vs 24.3 team pointsSam LaPorta +
- No injury designationseven
- 90% vs 55% snap shareSam LaPorta +
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