Start Sam LaPorta in Week 2: our TE5 projects for 10.2 points, 3.2 above a typical starting TE.
- Projection
- 10.2 pts
- TE rank
- #5
- Matchup
- at BUF
Sam LaPorta's fantasy role in Week 2
Sam LaPorta goes into Week 2 of the 2026 season as a every-week lineup piece at TE for the DET. He is rostered in 96% of leagues and actually started in 79% of them, and we rank him TE5 on our own weekly board at 10.2 projected points.
Roster rates are steady week over week, so his role looks settled rather than in flux.
No injury designation to work around right now, which keeps his projection honest.
Week 2 matchup breakdown
The matchup: at BUF. Our Pepper Meter heat rating for this spot is 4 out of 5, which is how we grade the combination of role, projection and opponent difficulty.
Against a typical starting TE baseline of 7 points, his 10.2-point projection is 3.2 points better. That gap is the whole start/sit argument in one number.
How to play it
Start Sam LaPorta in Week 2: our TE5 projects for 10.2 points, 3.2 above a typical starting TE.
If you are deciding between him and another TE, compare projections first, then lean on the Pepper Meter heat rating as the tiebreaker.
Sally's take
Peppers & Picks ranks Sam LaPorta (DET TE), our TE5 this week for Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at BUF, projecting 10.2 projected points with a on fire Pepper Meter rating. The math is unsexy and convincing: 10.2 points, 46% above what the position pays out on average. BUF is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. 79% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Add it up and you get a On Fire reading on the Pepper Meter — Sally isn't hedging on this one.
Tina's take
Peppers & Picks ranks Sam LaPorta (DET TE), our TE5 this week for Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at BUF, projecting 10.2 projected points with a on fire Pepper Meter rating. The math is unsexy and convincing: 10.2 points, 46% above what the position pays out on average. BUF is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. 79% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Add it up and you get a On Fire reading on the Pepper Meter — Tina isn't hedging on this one.