Sam LaPorta vs Christian Watson
2026 draft comparison · half-PPR
Updated Aug 26, 2026
Should you draft Sam LaPorta or Christian Watson?
Last season — 2025, per game
Full game log & past seasons
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | TGT | REC | YD | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | GB | 10.9 | TE6 | 9 | 6 | 79 | 0 |
2 | CHI | 4.1 | TE32 | 4 | 3 | 26 | 0 |
3 | BAL | 5.3 | TE24 | 4 | 4 | 33 | 0 |
4 | CLE | 5.4 | TE25 | 4 | 3 | 39 | 0 |
5 | CIN | 17.7 | TE4 | 6 | 5 | 92 | 1 |
6 | KC | 14.0 | TE4 | 6 | 5 | 55 | 1 |
7 | TB | 3.0 | TE36 | 3 | 3 | 15 | 0 |
8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
9 | MIN | 18.7 | TE4 | 8 | 6 | 97 | 1 |
10 | WAS | 7.8 | TE14 | 5 | 5 | 53 | 0 |
Earlier seasons (2024)
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | TGT | REC | YD | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | LAR | 6.5 | TE8 | 5 | 4 | 45 | 0 |
2 | TB | 2.3 | TE34 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 0 |
3 | ARI | 4.6 | TE21 | 2 | 2 | 36 | 0 |
4 | SEA | 7.3 | TE14 | 4 | 4 | 53 | 0 |
5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | DAL | 11.7 | TE6 | 1 | 1 | 52 | 1 |
7 | MIN | 3.0 | TE34 | 2 | 1 | 25 | 0 |
8 | TEN | 13.8 | TE9 | 6 | 6 | 48 | 1 |
9 | GB | 3.8 | TE29 | 3 | 2 | 28 | 0 |
10 | HOU | 14.1 | TE3 | 6 | 3 | 66 | 1 |
11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
12 | IND | 3.4 | TE26 | 6 | 3 | 19 | 0 |
13 | CHI | 14.1 | TE8 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
14 | GB | 7.9 | TE11 | 7 | 5 | 54 | 0 |
15 | BUF | 14.6 | TE2 | 10 | 7 | 111 | 0 |
16 | CHI | 12.3 | TE5 | 7 | 4 | 43 | 1 |
17 | SF | 15.4 | TE5 | 8 | 6 | 64 | 1 |
18 | MIN | 9.8 | TE15 | 7 | 7 | 63 | 0 |
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | TGT | REC | YD | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
7 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
8 | PIT | 10.5 | WR30 | 4 | 4 | 85 | 0 |
9 | CAR | 6.8 | WR48 | 4 | 2 | 58 | 0 |
10 | PHI | 5.5 | WR47 | 4 | 2 | 45 | 0 |
11 | NYG | 18.6 | WR5 | 5 | 4 | 46 | 2 |
12 | MIN | 7.4 | WR36 | 7 | 5 | 49 | 0 |
13 | DET | 16.3 | WR12 | 10 | 4 | 80 | 1 |
14 | CHI | 22.9 | WR5 | 4 | 4 | 89 | 2 |
15 | DEN | 4.4 | WR67 | 5 | 3 | 29 | 0 |
16 | CHI | 2.7 | WR85 | 6 | 2 | 17 | 0 |
17 | BAL | 19.8 | WR5 | 6 | 5 | 113 | 1 |
Earlier seasons (2024)
| WK | OPP | FPTS | RANK | TGT | REC | YD | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | PHI | 8.8 | WR35 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 1 |
2 | IND | 0.0 | WR163 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
3 | TEN | 7.7 | WR46 | 2 | 2 | 67 | 0 |
4 | MIN | 0.0 | WR157 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
5 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
6 | ARI | 14.3 | WR19 | 4 | 3 | 68 | 1 |
7 | HOU | 1.0 | WR100 | 2 | 1 | 9 | 0 |
8 | JAX | 5.9 | WR61 | 6 | 4 | 39 | 0 |
9 | DET | 7.2 | WR44 | 7 | 3 | 37 | 0 |
10 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
11 | CHI | 17.0 | WR10 | 4 | 4 | 150 | 0 |
12 | SF | 0.4 | WR97 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
13 | MIA | 7.7 | WR44 | 4 | 2 | 67 | 0 |
14 | DET | 11.4 | WR28 | 7 | 4 | 114 | 0 |
15 | SEA | 7.1 | WR47 | 6 | 3 | 56 | 0 |
16 | NO | 2.3 | WR93 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
17 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
18 | CHI | 0.0 | WR132 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Latest takes
“Sam LaPorta is healthier, but the Lions were bad last season, and the most important thing is that they might have a competent play-caller once again in Drew Petzing. The team has said they want to lean into what Jared Goff does best by using play-action passes heavily.”
Tom Strachan· Aug 23“Round 8: Sam LaPorta (TE – DET) I wanted to add more tight ends given the TE-Premium setting, and Sam LaPorta is a great target.”
Richard Janvrin· Aug 22“Fantasy players should take Tyler Warren a few picks earlier or wait nearly two rounds to select Sam LaPorta (TE8).”
Mike Fanelli· Aug 22
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“This stretch of games from Weeks 11-18 also coincided with Sam LaPorta ‘s absence, which increased Gibbs’ passing game usage.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 14“Sam LaPorta – 2.14 Browns QBs through 5 training camp practices, per ESPN Cleveland:”
The FF Newsletter· Aug 6“Most playoff receiving yards ever by a rookie TE (193), passing Sam LaPorta”
The FF Newsletter· Aug 6“Round 9: Sam LaPorta (TE – DET) Since the FLEX spot allows for tight ends, I made a dart-throw pick on Sam LaPorta.”
Richard Janvrin· Jul 28“Sam LaPorta has dealt with injuries in the last two seasons, to the point where I don’t want to target him this season. His rookie year breakout feels like ages ago.”
Frank Ammirante· Jul 27“Sam LaPorta (TE – DET) LaPorta is currently the TE8, 84th overall, a range one analyst would easily take him from over two tight ends ranked just ahead of him. He’s been fully cleared from a herniated disc heading into camp and isn’t expected to miss any time, news that should push his price up over the coming weeks.”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 25“From Weeks 1-10, including a Week 8 bye week, LaPorta was the TE8 in PPR leagues. He averaged 11.9 fantasy points per game, catching 40 passes for 489 yards and three touchdowns before the injury. In that span, he had an 18.6% target share, which was second on the team behind wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown (31.2%).”
Richard Janvrin· Jul 22“Sam LaPorta was the counter-pick, a name being drafted at a discount after a frustrating, injury-interrupted season.”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 22“This brings us to TE Sam LaPorta . Historically, he had been one of those middle-round TEs that Jason was avoiding like the plague. But now that he has been slipping to rounds 9-10, he’s an excellent pick when taking opportunity/cost into consideration.”
Maggie Thraen· Jul 19“Harold Fannin sits at TE6, and Kyle Pitts and Sam LaPorta are essentially tied for TE7 and TE8, with Pitts holding just a slight edge on the chart. Kyle Pitts (TE – ATL) vs. Sam LaPorta (TE – DET) In a live dynasty startup draft one of our analysts is currently participating in, Pitts came off the board about eight picks before their own selection, leading them to take LaPorta in the same round instead.”
FantasyPros Staff· Jul 19“LaPorta dominated from the outside as one of the best receiving tight ends in the league, and while he's fallen back to earth a bit from the highs of his rookie campaign, he's still very good.”
Ethan Woodie· Jul 11“LaPorta only appeared in nine games last season due to a herniated disc. Before his injury, LaPorta had received 18.6% of Detroit's targets (TE9) and averaged 2.0 yards per route run (TE6).”
Rich Hribar· Jul 8
“Christian Watson is one of the best value bets on the board because his draft cost still doesn’t match his 2026 role. In 10 games last year, he posted 611 yards, six touchdowns, and 17.5 yards per catch after missing seven weeks with an ACL tear.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 25“Christian Watson (WR – GB) | ADP: 71.2 ( WR 30) Last season, Christian Watson was the WR15 on a points-per-game basis among wide receivers with at least nine games played. He averaged 13.2 PPR fantasy points per contest, despite averaging only 5.5 targets per outing after missing the first seven weeks recovering from a torn ACL.”
Mike Fanelli· Aug 25“Christian Watson got the bag this offseason and should be considered the clear WR1 for the Green Bay Packers. Watson deserved the pay day as a he proved that he can handle this role last year.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 25
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“Christian Watson tore the ACL in his right knee on January 5th, 2025. He made his season debut for the Packers on October 26th, 2025. Watson’s ability to return from reconstructive knee surgery so quickly would have been impressive on its own, but he wasn’t done there. Instead, Watson balled out.”
Josh Shepardson· Aug 24“Christian Watson has never been healthy for a full season, but when he’s out there, he gets targeted plenty. In the off chance he plays a full season, Watson could have a massive season.”
Richard Janvrin· Aug 23“With Romeo Doubs signing with the New England Patriots, this has more than cleared the way for Christian Watson to be the No. 1 WR in the Packers’ offense. Of course, Watson needs to stay healthy, though, which has been easier said than done.”
Richard Janvrin· Aug 18“Christian Watson is one of the easiest players in fantasy football to label as risky. He has missed time in every NFL season, sat out the first seven weeks last year, and has never produced more than 620 receiving yards.”
Javier Manzanera· Aug 14“The Jets have not added any talent at wide receiver that will truly threaten Wilson’s targets, and if he starts 2026 like he started 2025, he will be on pace for 150+ targets, 1,200+ yards, and 12+ touchdowns, which will make him a league-winning pick as WR19!!” – Adam Dove ( The Fantasy Couriers ) Christian Watson (WR – GB) “With Romeo Doubs gone and Tucker Kraft working his way back from injury, Christian Watson has a clear path to more targets.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 11“Christian Watson (WR – GB) Going as the WR29, 65th overall, one analyst has him as high as WR20 and would consider him as early as round four.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 10“On a recent podcast, I touted Packers WR Christian Watson as a high-upside player worth pursuing. The FantasyPros social media team clipped part of my Watson spiel and posted it on several platforms. An overwhelming number of the replies cited Watson’s extensive injury history – he’s missed 20 games in his four NFL seasons – and rejected the premise that Watson was worth drafting.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 9“This season, the team WR1 picks are going in the WR3 range or later: DJ Moore, Mike Evans, Carnell Tate, Christian Watson, Marvin Harrison Jr, Brian Thomas Jr, Alec Pierce, and KC Concepcion.”
Rich Hribar· Aug 6“Fantasy Football Research & Advice Fantasy Football Expert Rankings 2026 Fantasy Football Draft Kit Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer Fantasy Football Value Players to Target Christian Watson (WR – GB) ADP: 65 | (WR30) The biggest knock on Watson is health”
Kyle Zeigler· Aug 6“Watson has the potential to be special. And his current cost assumes he’ll miss a few games.”
FantasyPros Staff· Aug 6“Early reports indicate that Christian Watson, Jayden Reed , and Matthew Golden will run the majority of the routes with fewer substitutions following the departure of Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks .”
Curtis Hirsch· Aug 5“20 come from two buckets: Hyper-specified role players (Stefon Diggs, Rashee Rice) Guys with other top 24 or strong ancillary target competition (Both Rams WRs, Jameson Williams, CeeDee Lamb, Tee Higgins, Quentin Johnston with Ladd McConkey/Keenan Allen) You may notice there’s one guy on this list who fits in neither, and it’s Thundering Herd legend Christian Watson (shout out to NDSU).”
Tony Martin· Jul 30