Lions TE Sam LaPorta caught a 52-yard TD pass from QB Jared Goff on a trick play in Sunday's win over the Cowboys. But that marked his only reception -- and target -- of the game.
LaPorta trailed WR Amon-Ra St. Brown by just one snap for second among non-QB skill-position players in offensive snaps against the Cowboys. His 19 pass routes tied RB Jahmyr Gibbs for third on the team but represented just a 59.4% route share, according to Pro Football Focus.
Blame part of that on Detroit pulling starters early in a blowout victory. But PFF says LaPorta also played less than usual in 2-TE sets over the game's first three quarters.
His 14 snaps in "12" personnel trailed Brock Wright (18) and Parker Hesse (16). Between that and his "11" personnel usage, LaPorta came off the field for eight pass plays before starters left.
He played on 85.5% of 12-personnel snaps over this season's first four games. So it's not necessarily a problem yet. But the Lions didn't list LaPorta on the injury report this week, and HC Dan Campbell has talked before about trying to get him going.
The trick-play TD was a nice example of that. But it was also his only target in a game for which they basically had two weeks to plan.
I'm not sure all that makes LaPorta a "sell" in fantasy. But I also wouldn't chase after him as a "buy low" right now.
Week 7 holds a tough matchup at Minnesota.
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