Okay, let’s talk about something that really had me scratching my head for my fantasy team recently. It came down to choosing between Sam LaPorta and Mark Andrews at tight end. Man, that was a tough one, and I spent a good chunk of time going back and forth on it.
Starting the Grind
So, the situation popped up, and I knew I couldn’t just flip a coin. These guys are both beasts at the position, but in different ways, right? Andrews has been that reliable stud for years, Lamar Jackson’s safety blanket. You kinda know what you’re getting, or at least, you think you do. Then there’s LaPorta, who just blew the doors off his rookie season. Kid looked incredible with Jared Goff throwing him the rock.
My first step was just pulling up their basic numbers from last season. Didn’t get too fancy, just looked at targets, catches, yards, touchdowns. Obviously, LaPorta had that monster rookie year, setting records and all that. Andrews missed a chunk of time with that nasty ankle injury, so his season totals weren’t quite up to his usual standard, but when he played, he was still getting looks.
Weighing the Options
I started listing out the pros and cons in my head, trying to make sense of it all.
For Mark Andrews:
- He’s done it before. Multiple elite seasons under his belt.
- Clear connection with his QB, Lamar Jackson. He’s a go-to guy, especially in the red zone.
- Ravens offense should still be good, even with some changes.
But then, the worries about Andrews:
- That injury from last year. How healthy is he really? Will it linger?
- Age is starting to creep up a tiny bit for a TE.
- Maybe more target competition now?
Now for Sam LaPorta:
- Dude was electric as a rookie. Unbelievable production right out of the gate.
- Seems like a huge part of that Lions offense. Goff clearly trusts him.
- Young, healthy, probably still getting better.
The flip side for LaPorta:
- Can he repeat that performance? The dreaded sophomore slump is real sometimes.
- Defenses will pay way more attention to him this year. No more surprises.
- Is his touchdown rate sustainable? He scored a lot.
Making the Call
So, I stared at this list, looked at my team’s needs. Did I need the potentially safer floor (if healthy) of Andrews, or swing for the fences with LaPorta’s upside? I thought about the offenses, too. The Lions were firing on all cylinders last year, and LaPorta was right in the middle of it. The Ravens are always solid, but Andrews’ health felt like the bigger question mark for me.
It wasn’t easy. I kept thinking about those classic Andrews smash games, but then the image of LaPorta catching everything thrown his way last season would pop into my head. I probably changed my mind three or four times.
In the end, I decided to roll with Sam LaPorta. The upside and his role in that Lions offense just felt too good to pass up, especially considering the uncertainty around Andrews bouncing back fully from that injury right away. It felt like betting on the momentum and the clearer path to consistent targets, at least in my view.
It’s always a bit of a gamble in fantasy, isn’t it? You do your homework, trust your gut, and hope for the best. We’ll see how it plays out, but that was my process for this specific headache.
