Dallas Goedert or Sam LaPorta: Toss-Up — Week 1 Start/Sit Verdict

Too close to call — the edges cancel out.

Dallas Goedert and Sam LaPorta grade out even this week. Goedert's best edge is availability (a clean report to LaPorta's Q), LaPorta's best edge is the game script (27.8 implied points to 26.0) — and they cancel out. Start whichever player's game you trust more this week.

In standard scoring this flips to Goedert.

Dallas Goedert

TE7PHIvs WSH

6.88.810.9 Projected Points

Start· high

Sam LaPorta

TE6DETvs NO

6.58.711.0 Projected Points

Start· medium

Why Dallas Goedert

Start· high

Starting TE and red-zone weapon. Reliable chain-mover with strong yards-after-catch and blocking ability.

TE7 with a 20% target share and 85% snaps in an offense implied for 26 points — clear top-tier TE1 play.

WSH ranks 21 of 32 against TEs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 0-game sample).
Vegas implies 26.0 team points as 5.5-point favorites.
Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 85% snap share in 2025.

The call

Goedert's 20% target share on an 85% snap share over 15 games is elite volume for the position; he's the clear pass-game hub at TE for Philadelphia.
A 26.0 implied team total and a 5.5-point favorite spread points to a script with red-zone chances rather than garbage-time desperation — Goedert is a scoring threat in that range.
10.9 projected points at TE7 clears the bar comfortably over a replacement streamer in 12-team PPR, and he carries no injury designation.
The DvP composite of 21 of 32 is off a 0-game sample with 0.00 confidence, so the matchup grade is noise here — role and game environment carry the call.

Why Sam LaPorta

Start· medium

TE1 and pass-catching mismatch. Reliable seam and intermediate target when healthy.

TE6 with a 91% snap share and 17% target share on a 27.8-point implied total — if LaPorta clears his questionable tag, he's an easy TE1 play.

Carries a Questionable tag — usually plays, but monitor the final report.
NO ranks 13 of 32 against TEs (a middle-of-the-road matchup, 0-game sample).
Vegas implies 27.8 team points as 7.0-point favorites.
Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 91% snap share in 2025.

The call

Role is locked in: 91% snap share and a 17% target share over nine games is TE1 volume, and the consensus TE6 rank with 11.0 projected points backs it up.
Detroit carries a 27.8 implied total as a 7-point favorite — plenty of scoring chances, and LaPorta is a red-zone factor in that offense rather than a garbage-time-dependent piece.
The DvP composite of 13 of 32 reads slightly tough, but it comes off a 0-game sample with 0.00 confidence, so it shouldn't move the needle.
Only real risk is the questionable designation — confirm he's active pregame and have a bench TE warm, otherwise he's in the lineup.

Latest on LaPorta

Lions safeties Branch, Joseph expected to return after PUP stints

Lions starting safeties Brian Branch (Achilles) and Kerby Joseph (knee), who will both miss the first four games of the season, are expected to return at some point, according to GM Brad Holmes

ESPN · Sep 2, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

Metric	Dallas Goedert	Sam LaPorta
Projected points	6.88.810.9	6.58.711.0
Consensus rank	TE7	TE6
Opponent vs position	WSH · 21 of 320-game sample	NO · 13 of 320-game sample
Receptions	11 of 32	14 of 32
Receiving Yards	26 of 32	14 of 32
Receiving TDs	30 of 32	9 of 32
Targets	9 of 32	18 of 32
Anytime TD	31 of 32	9 of 32
Target share	20%(2025)	17%(2025)
Reception share	21%(2025)	19%(2025)
Implied total · spread	26.0-5.5	27.8-7.0
Depth chart	TE1	TE1
Snap share	85%(2025)	91%(2025)
Injury designation	—	Q