Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Evan Engram 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 4.8-PPG advantage is real (9.7 to 4.9), and Sam LaPorta's 3 touchdowns show scoring upside. Evan Engram 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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TEDenver Broncos#35

Evan Engram

PPG

4.9

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

461

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 12

TEDetroit Lions#7PPG LEADER

Sam LaPorta

PPG

9.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

489

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Evan Engram

Sam LaPorta

Head to Head

4.9 PPG9.7 PPG

16 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 12Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Evan Engram: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #35 at the position). Sam LaPorta: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #7 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Evan Engram is producing at 22% 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.

Evan Engram vs Sam LaPorta: Who Should You Start?

Evan Engram and Sam LaPorta are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Evan Engram averaged 4.9 PPG across 16 games with the Denver Broncos, while Sam LaPorta posted 9.7 PPG in 9 appearances for the Detroit Lions.

A 4.8-PPG gap gives Sam LaPorta the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Evan Engram had 50 catches for 461 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.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Evan Engram sits Week 12 while Sam LaPorta is off Week 8. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Sam LaPorta at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Evan Engram is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Evan Engram (age 31) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Sam LaPorta (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Sam LaPorta outscored Evan Engram by a projected 82 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Evan Engram played 16 games in 2025 compared to Sam LaPorta's 9. That durability gap means Evan Engram contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Sam LaPorta scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Evan Engram saw 76 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Sam LaPorta is 6 years younger than Evan Engram (25 vs 31), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatEngramLaPorta

PPG (Half-PPR)4.99.7

Games Played169

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)7887

Receptions5040

Rec/Game3.14.4

Receiving Yards461489

Rec Yds/Game28.854.3

Receiving TDs13

Targets7649

Target Share/Game4.85.4

Age3125

Experience8 yrs2 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 12Week 8

Summary

Sam LaPorta outscored Evan Engram by 4.8 PPG in 2025 (9.7 to 4.9). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Evan Engram or Sam LaPorta in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Sam LaPorta has the edge at 9.7 PPG compared to Evan Engram's 4.9 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 Evan Engram and Sam LaPorta average in 2025?▾

Evan Engram averaged 4.9 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 4.8 points per game.

When are Evan Engram and Sam LaPorta's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Evan Engram (DEN) has a bye in Week 12, and Sam LaPorta (DET) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Evan Engram or Sam LaPorta a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Sam LaPorta outscored Evan Engram by 4.8 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.