New
Week8 · 2026
Starting1
Scoring
New comparison
Lean

LaPorta

TE · DET vs MIN

Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET

Projected points11.5pts

First out

Higbee

TE · LA vs LAC

Kickoff Sun 4:05 PM ET

Projected points9.6pts

Lean

Bench

Sam LaPorta or Tyler Higbee: Who Should I Start in Week 8?

Lean Sam LaPorta over Tyler Higbee.

Ahead by
+1.9pts
over Higbee
Confidence
Moderate
Lean
Started
83%
of leagues

Flips if

Start Tyler Higbee instead if you want surer hands (81% of his targets caught to 72%).

Risk

The risk: LaPorta caught 1 for 18 yards last week (2.8 points).

Highlights

Injuries as of Fri 2:00 PM ET
LaPortaLeanTE · DET vs MINUsually 13.2−1.7pts this week

Helps him

  1. 1.7red zoneHe gets 1.7 red zone targets a game, a real path to touchdowns.
  2. 43%big weeks43% of his games have been big weeks.

Hurts him

  1. −1.0ptstouchdownsHis lines put him at 0.34 touchdowns, below his usual 0.50.
  2. −0.6ptsrec yardsHis lines put him at 49.5 receiving yards, below his usual 55.7.
  3. MINvs TEsEdgeMIN is the 3rd toughest defense for tight ends.
HigbeeFirst outTE · LA vs LACUsually 7.7+1.9pts this week

Helps him

  1. +1.5ptstouchdownsHis lines put him at 0.39 touchdowns, above his usual 0.14.

Hurts him

  1. 11%targetsHe draws only 11% of his team’s targets.
  2. LACvs TEsEdgeLAC is the 2nd toughest defense for tight ends.

Points are what each line adds to or takes off his usual week. EdgeFrom the game around him.

Stat comparison

Every player you picked, stat by stat, most important first.

Stat
Scoring
ProjectionLaPorta: 11.5 (best)Higbee: 9.6
TD pointsof the projectionLaPorta: 2.0Higbee: 2.3 (best)
Expected TDsthis weekLaPorta: 0.34Higbee: 0.39 (best)
Projected team pointsLaPorta: 24.8Higbee: 25.8 (best)
Red zone targetsper gameLaPorta: 1.7 (best)Higbee: 0.3
Role
Snap shareLaPorta: 89% (best)Higbee: 58%
Usage worthptsLaPorta: 11.8 (best)Higbee: 7.2
Target shareLaPorta: 17% (best)Higbee: 11%
Targets / gameLaPorta: 6.5 (best)Higbee: 4.6
Air yards shareLaPorta: 14% (best)Higbee: 11%
Vacated targets this weekLaPorta: 0.0Higbee: 12.2 (best)
RZ target shareLaPorta: 22% (best)Higbee: 6%
Inside 10 target shareLaPorta: 36% (best)Higbee: 6%
Catch rateLaPorta: 72%Higbee: 81% (best)
SeparationLaPorta: 4.0 yds (best)Higbee: 2.9 yds
YAC over expectedLaPorta: +0.1 (best)Higbee: −0.3
Usage worth vs scoredLaPorta: Earned by usage 11.8Scored 13.2Higbee: Earned by usage 7.2Scored 7.7
Receiving TDs vs RZ targetsLaPorta: AboveHigbee: 2 RZ targets
WOPRLaPorta: 0.34 (best)Higbee: 0.24
Range
FloorLaPorta: 6.4 (best)Higbee: 4.5
CeilingLaPorta: 19.0 (best)Higbee: 16.3
Points from TDssteadier when lowerLaPorta: 23%Higbee: 11%
Big weeks (15+ pts)LaPorta: 43% (best)Higbee: 17%
Dud weeks (under 5 pts)lower is betterLaPorta: 14% (best)Higbee: 50%
SteadinessLaPorta: Steady (best)±6.9 ptsHigbee: Volatile±7.6 pts · 6 games
Matchup
Matchup gradevs his position · 2026, 6 gmLaPorta: D (best)Higbee: D-
Game scriptLaPorta: Expected to leadHigbee: Expected to lead (best)
Opp takeaways / gamelower is betterLaPorta: 1.8Higbee: 1.7 (best)
Defense funnelLaPorta: NeutralHigbee: Neutral
Opp pass yds allowedLaPorta: 2nd (tough)Higbee: 7th (tough) (best)
Starting QBLaPorta: Goff (Active)Higbee: Stafford (Active)
Roof / surfaceturfLaPorta: DomeHigbee: Dome
Rest / scheduleLaPorta: NormalHigbee: Normal
Opp paceLaPorta: 26th (slow)Higbee: 15th (average) (best)
Opp deep targets allowed / game14th (average)LaPorta: 0.5Higbee: 0.5
Opp catch rate allowedLaPorta: 47%1st (tough)Higbee: 74% (best)21st (average)
Form
Last 3 avgLaPorta: 15.0 (best)Higbee: 7.0
Last 5 avgLaPorta: 13.9 (best)Higbee: 10.6
vs seasonLaPorta: +1.8 (Rising) (best)Higbee: −0.7 (Cooling)
Yards per route runLaPorta: 1.73 (best)Higbee: 1.63
Receiving aDOTLaPorta: 6.2Higbee: 8.0
Target share trendLaPorta: CoolingHigbee: Steady
Crowd
Started in leaguesLaPorta: 84% (best)Higbee: 38%
Nuvela position ranklower is betterLaPorta: TE4 (best)Higbee: TE12
Yards linereceivingLaPorta: 49.5 (best)Higbee: 37.5

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