Sam LaPorta vs. Kyle Pitts: Which Middle Round TE Should You Draft in Fantasy Football?

Each year, the tight end position remains the most interesting position in fantasy football. There tends to be extreme variance each year between the leader in the clubhouse and the end of the TE1s. In 2025, the overall TE1, Trey McBride, scored 252.9 points in half-PPR scoring while TE10 Juwan Johnson scored about 110 points less. This gap in production can provide a positional advantage week to week over opponents for those lucky enough to find one of the elite playmakers at the position.

This advantage is typically priced into the top-end target's average draft position, but for fantasy football drafters who want to test their instincts in later rounds, finding the right player can be especially important.

Two middle-round tight ends in 2026 who are especially intriguing are our experts' consensus TE7 and 8 in Sam LaPorta and Kyle Pitts, respectively. In our total consensus, Pitts comes in only three slots lower than LaPorta at 96 overall; however, it is interesting to note that LaPorta has been flying off the board almost a full round earlier. In 12-team leagues, LaPorta on average is selected in the beginning of the sixth round while Pitts typically goes around the start of the seventh.

Sam LaPorta vs. Kyle Pitts: Who Should You Draft in Fantasy Football?

The Case for Kyle Pitts

Kyle Pitts has long been a source of frustration for fantasy managers. After a historically great rookie year where he became the second rookie tight end to surpass the 1,000-yard mark, he followed up that season with three consecutive disappointing campaigns. Finally, in 2025, when drafters were at their wits' end, he broke out once again, amassing a stat line of 88 receptions, 926 yards, and five TDs and finishing as the TE2 overall.

These numbers shocked fantasy managers, leading many to playoff wins with his late-season heroics. Much of Pitts' high-end production came in a one-month stretch from week 13 to week 16, a timeframe in which there are two important circumstances to note. First of all, Kirk Cousins was the signal-caller for the Falcons, and with his departure from Atlanta and the arrival of Tua Tagovailoa in the off-season, Pitts' ability to build rapport is once again in question. Additionally, the focal point of the passing attack, Drake London, was absent until Week 16 last year after suffering a PCL sprain.

The Case for Sam LaPorta

Sam LaPorta dealt with a herniated disc in 2025, which saw him miss the final eight games of the season. In the nine games he was healthy, he logged 40 receptions, 489 yards, and three TDs, averaging 54.3 yards a game. LaPorta also notably led all tight ends in that timespan in receiving after the catch, an important metric when considering the stack of offensive talent competing for targets in Detroit.

After OC John Morton was removed from playcalling duties in Week 10, Detroit decided to bring in a new offensive mind this offseason. Drew Petzing served as the offensive coordinator in Arizona this past season, where Trey McBride saw incredible usage. In 2025, McBride ran 699 routes, over 110 more than the next tight end. While a number of things, from game script to lack of talent outside, led to this inflated number, it is still a vital statistic to note.

Should You Draft Kyle Pitts or Sam LaPorta in Fantasy Football?

In 2026, despite the potential value of Pitts being available a round later, I would still lean toward paying the premium for LaPorta. We cannot bet on injury luck one way or the other, and even if he came back to neutral, LaPorta should return to his ADP. While yards typically are the best predictor of next season's fantasy points, Pitts has too many question marks surrounding him for me to buy in at that price point.

LaPorta should thrive in a tight-end-friendly system where offensive efficiency could lead to double-digit opportunities to get into the paydirt. LaPorta provides a safe floor and high-end ceiling that will help your team push for a championship in 2026.