Sam LaPorta — Week 2: Eighteen Yards on Fourth and Five
2026 NFL Season · Half-PPR Scoring · Friday, Sep 18
LaPorta caught six of seven targets for 52 yards and a one-yard touchdown, including 18 on fourth and five at the Buffalo 40 that was Detroit's most valuable play of the night by expected points, and drew the pass interference call that set up his own score. Third on the Lions in targets, four days after an overtime game, in a 41–31 loss to the Bills.
When Sam LaPorta's week moves the numbers, you'll know — every episode, in one weekly email.
The full episode, in writing
27 to 10, Bills, 11 40 left in the third quarter, fourth and five at the Buffalo 40. Jared Goff threw short over the middle to Sam LaPorta, who took it to the 22, 18 yards. +4.3 expected points added — expected points added is what a play was worth given down, distance and field position — the most valuable Detroit play in the game, and 3.4 points of win probability, the chance of winning the game after the play against before it. Four plays later Amon-Ra St. Brown caught the touchdown.
The line: seven targets, six catches, 52 yards, one touchdown, four first downs, +5.7 expected points on his targets. 23 air yards, 38 after the catch. The catches: two on first and 10 early, 12 12 on the two drives before halftime, the 18, seven to the Buffalo 12 early in the fourth quarter on the touchdown drive, and the touchdown itself — first and goal at the one, 10 57 left, down 34 to 17. The play before that was his too: third and seven at the nine, incomplete, defensive pass interference on Christian Benford, first and goal. The one incompletion was first and 10 at the Buffalo 28 in the second quarter. Four targets before halftime, three after, none on third down, one on fourth.
Where he sat: third on the Lions in targets behind St. Brown's 13 and Jahmyr Gibbs's eight, ahead of Isaac TeSlaa's five and Jameson Williams's four. Goff threw four touchdowns and LaPorta had one; St. Brown had two, Gibbs one. Detroit converted both fourth downs it tried, and the first was his.
Back in June the preview's read on LaPorta was an elite role and a back surgery — a season that ended after nine games with the back injury, and a career availability figure of about 82 percent. Week 1 was eight targets in an overtime game, and the episode said four days later was the availability test. He played, was targeted in every quarter, converted a fourth down and scored. Two games is two games, and the role half of the read has now shown up twice; the availability half has passed its first short week. Detroit is home to the Jets on Sunday the 20-seventh.
_Data via nflverse._
When Sam LaPorta's week moves the numbers, you'll know — every episode, in one weekly email.
Keep going