Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Dawson Knox vs Sam LaPorta

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Sam LaPorta is the better fantasy play this season.

Sam LaPorta has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.3-PPG advantage is real (9.7 to 5.4), and Sam LaPorta's 3 touchdowns show scoring upside. Dawson Knox is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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TEBuffalo Bills#33

Dawson Knox

PPG

5.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

417

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

TEDetroit Lions#7PPG LEADER

Sam LaPorta

PPG

9.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

489

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Dawson Knox

Sam LaPorta

Head to Head

5.4 PPG9.7 PPG

16 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Dawson Knox: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #33 at the position). Sam LaPorta: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #7 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Dawson Knox is producing at 25% of elite pace and Sam LaPorta at 44%. That ranking gap means Sam LaPorta carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Dawson Knox vs Sam LaPorta: Who Should You Start?

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Dawson Knox (Buffalo Bills) finished the 2025 season averaging 5.4 fantasy points per game in 16 games. Sam LaPorta (Detroit Lions) came in at 9.7 PPG over 9 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Sam LaPorta carries a 4.3-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Dawson Knox had 36 catches for 417 yards; Sam LaPorta posted 40 for 489. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

Dawson Knox has his bye in Week 7, and Sam LaPorta rests in Week 8. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Sam LaPorta at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Dawson Knox is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Dawson Knox (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Sam LaPorta (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Sam LaPorta outscored Dawson Knox by a projected 73 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Dawson Knox played 16 games in 2025 compared to Sam LaPorta's 9. That durability gap means Dawson Knox contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Dawson Knox scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Sam LaPorta saw 49 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Sam LaPorta is 4 years younger than Dawson Knox (25 vs 29), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatKnoxLaPorta

PPG (Half-PPR)5.49.7

Games Played169

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)8687

Receptions3640

Rec/Game2.34.4

Receiving Yards417489

Rec Yds/Game26.154.3

Receiving TDs43

Targets4949

Target Share/Game3.15.4

Age2925

Experience6 yrs2 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 7Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Sam LaPorta holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 9.7 points per game. Dawson Knox averaged 5.4 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Dawson Knox or Sam LaPorta in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Sam LaPorta has the edge at 9.7 PPG compared to Dawson Knox's 5.4 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Dawson Knox and Sam LaPorta average in 2025?▾

Dawson Knox averaged 5.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Sam LaPorta averaged 9.7 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 4.3 points per game.

When are Dawson Knox and Sam LaPorta's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Dawson Knox (BUF) has a bye in Week 7, and Sam LaPorta (DET) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Dawson Knox or Sam LaPorta a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Sam LaPorta outscored Dawson Knox by 4.3 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.