LaPorta is typically an every-down tight end when healthy.
He played only 80. 5% of the offensive snaps in Week 1, in part because he missed time during training camp due to injury. His snap rate increased to 95. 4% over Weeks 2 and 3, when he played 93% of the early-down snaps in 11 personnel, 91. 7% of the third-down snaps and 100% of the snaps in two- and three-tight end sets. This week, LaPorta continued to dominate the snaps on third downs and in two-tight end sets, but he rotated out more frequently on early downs in 11 personnel. Brock Wright has been the Lions’ blocking tight end, and he was the primary beneficiary of LaPorta’s reduced playing time. While many of those additional snaps came on running plays, LaPorta still finished with a season-low route participation rate. The reduced role ultimately didn’t hurt LaPorta’s fantasy production because Detroit spent most of the game passing, leading to four Lions players finishing with at least 70 receiving yards. However, if the Lions’ defense improves and Detroit doesn’t need to pass as frequently in future games, the reduced route participation could hurt LaPorta’s fantasy value. LaPorta is a reasonable sell-high option after this game.