Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Sam LaPorta vs Trey McBride

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Trey McBride is the better fantasy play this season.

Trey McBride is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 14.9 PPG and 1,239 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Sam LaPorta (9.7 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Trey McBride as the starter and Sam LaPorta as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TEDetroit Lions#7

Sam LaPorta

PPG

9.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

489

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

TEArizona Cardinals#1PPG LEADER

Trey McBride

PPG

14.9

Games

Rec

126

Rec Yds

1,239

Rec TDs

Targets

169

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Sam LaPorta

Trey McBride

Head to Head

9.7 PPG14.9 PPG

9 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Sam LaPorta: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #7 at the position). Trey McBride: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #1 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Sam LaPorta is producing at 44% of elite pace and Trey McBride at 68%. That ranking gap means Trey McBride carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Sam LaPorta vs Trey McBride: Who Should You Start?

Sam LaPorta and Trey McBride are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Sam LaPorta averaged 9.7 PPG across 9 games with the Detroit Lions, while Trey McBride posted 14.9 PPG in 17 appearances for the Arizona Cardinals.

A 5.2-PPG gap gives Trey McBride 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.

Trey McBride is the volume tight end in this matchup with 126 receptions for 1239 yards, while Sam LaPorta profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (3 scores on 40 catches). In weeks where Sam LaPorta finds the end zone he out-scores Trey McBride, but the floor gap is real.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 8 bye. That means you need a backup plan at tight end for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Trey McBride at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Sam LaPorta is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Sam LaPorta (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Trey McBride (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Trey McBride outscored Sam LaPorta by a projected 88 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Trey McBride played 17 games in 2025 compared to Sam LaPorta's 9. That durability gap means Trey McBride contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Trey McBride scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Trey McBride saw 169 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Both players share a Week 8 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatLaPortaMcBride

PPG (Half-PPR)9.714.9

Games Played917

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)87253

Receptions40126

Rec/Game4.47.4

Receiving Yards4891,239

Rec Yds/Game54.372.9

Receiving TDs311

Targets49169

Target Share/Game5.49.9

Age2526

Experience2 yrs3 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 8Week 8

Summary

Trey McBride outscored Sam LaPorta by 5.2 PPG in 2025 (14.9 to 9.7). 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 Sam LaPorta or Trey McBride in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Trey McBride has the edge at 14.9 PPG compared to Sam LaPorta's 9.7 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 Sam LaPorta and Trey McBride average in 2025?▾

Sam LaPorta averaged 9.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 9 games in 2025. Trey McBride averaged 14.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.2 points per game.

Do Sam LaPorta and Trey McBride share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Sam LaPorta and Trey McBride share a Week 8 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at tight end for that week.

Is Sam LaPorta or Trey McBride a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Trey McBride outscored Sam LaPorta by 5.2 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.