Last season, we witnessed the emergence of the tight end position. The youth movement began at a tight end, and Sam LaPorta led the charge. We finally have someone in the position who can challenge Travis Kelce for the TE1 in fantasy football. The average draft position (ADP) agrees as Kelce is 26th overall while LaPorta is 28th.
Our consensus rankings also agree as we flipped the two. LaPorta is 31st overall, while Kelce is 33rd. These two research sections show us that the jury is out for these tight ends, and we must adequately research our players to accurately dictate which one will help propel our fantasy team to the championship in 2024.
2024 Fantasy Outlook For Sam LaPorta
Last season, LaPorta charged onto the field and into the Lions’ den to become a primary target for this Detroit offense. Jared Goff targeted LaPorta 120 times, the fifth-most in the NFL. He finished with 86 receptions, 889 yards, and ten touchdowns for a stellar rookie season. TruMedia shows us that LaPorta was also an Air Yard Per Target (AY/Tar) machine. His AY/Tar was 7.09, which resulted in the 10th best for tight ends last season.
Our issue for LaPorta is regression. His ten touchdowns led the NFL for the tight end position. However, through camp, we have heard that Jameson Williams has taken a step forward within his game, which can harm LaPorta’s upside in 2024. LaPorta also has an issue with drops, as he has seven total drops, which tied him for second at the tight end position.
2024 Fantasy Outlook For Travis Kelce
Kelce has been the TE1 for fantasy football for so long that it’s weird to question his skill set. Kelce had the fourth-most targets and turned those targets into the third-most receptions (93), the second-most receiving yards (984), and the seventh-most touchdowns (5). TruMedia ranked Kelce as the sixth-best tight end regarding Receptions Per Target with a 76.9% finish. Kelce was also in the top 10 yards per reception (Yd/Rec).
You know the old saying, “If you aim at the king, you best not miss.” This phrase was meant for Kelce in 2024.
Who Should I Draft For 2024?
If others are going to sleep on Kelce for fantasy football, we will gladly take that edge that he creates and add him to our team. Kelce is a good player on a potent offense, which is a draft strategy we adore in fantasy football. Unlike LaPorta, Kelce’s bye week doesn’t come during a crucial week that could hurt our season. Yes, this is the most talent Kelce has dealt with around him with the additions at wide receiver.
However, if Tyreek Hill couldn’t stop the Kelce fantasy outlooks in the past, this group of receivers shouldn’t hamper Kelce either. Yes, age is there, but at the tight end position, the age barrier doesn’t scare us, and we expect more of the Kelce we have seen in the past with a positive touchdown regression to help bolster our fantasy football rosters in 2024.
