The Detroit Lions enjoyed a bye in Week 5 and are refreshed for a Week 6 game against the Dallas Cowboys. When it comes to quarterback Jared Goff and tight end Sam LaPorta, their arrows are pointing in different directions.
LaPorta is off to an incredibly disappointing start to the season after his historic 2023 campaign. The Iowa product has just 12 catches for 147 yards, and he has yet to find the end zone. On the bright side he did have a season-best 53 yards in Week 4, but that was only eight more than his previous best in Week 1.
Meanwhile, Goff is coming off a sensational showing in the win over the Seattle Seahawks. The veteran quarterback didn't throw a single incompletion, and he finished with 292 yards and three total touchdowns, including one receiving.
Is it safe to roll out both in fantasy football lineups this week with the Lions facing the Cowboys? Let's discuss.
Fantasy Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 6: Sam LaPorta
LaPorta has been a must-start player since he exploded onto the scene last year, but the door is slightly ajar for fantasy owners to sit him after the sophomore tight end ranked as TE15 overall going into the Lions' bye, per Fantasy Pros.
His target share is a concern, also. After being the clear-cut No. 2 option in the pass attack in 2023, LaPorta currently ranks third in targets thanks to the emergence of wide receiver Jameson Williams, who has jumped ahead of him in the pecking order.
But unless you have a really good secondary option on your bench that has proven to be more productive and consistent than LaPorta, you aren't going to sit him. And you certainly aren't going to scoop up some dart-throw tight end whose had maybe one or two good weeks to replace LaPorta.
The 2024 breakout game for LaPorta is coming. He's just too good of a player to not break out of this slump. We're hoping that happens this week against a Dallas defense that is a middle-of-the-road unit when it comes to surrendering fantasy points to tight ends.
Verdict: Start 'Em
Fantasy Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 6: Jared Goff
Goff appears to have found his stride after three lackluster games to start the year. Now, he's drawing a matchup against a Cowboys defense ceding the 11th-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Dallas is also without DeMarcus Lawrence, who is on injured reserve, and Micah Parsons might not play, either. Goff should have plenty of time to pick apart the Cowboys' secondary.
The biggest concern for Goff is the Lions leaning on the run more this week due to the struggles the Cowboys' defense has seen in that area this season, but we still like him as a high-end QB2, at worst, in Week 6.
Verdict: Start 'Em
