Start George Kittle or Sam LaPorta? Week 5

Our Week 5 call

Start George Kittle over Sam LaPorta in Week 5.

Market-based projections have George Kittle at 12.6 points and Sam LaPorta at 12.4, a gap of 0.2. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 12.6 fantasy points for George Kittle, with 100 percent of the markets a TE needs posted.

The market has George Kittle at 55.5 receiving yards and 4.5 receptions, with a 34% chance to score a touchdown (16, 10 and 15 market sources).

Player markets imply 12.4 fantasy points for Sam LaPorta, with 100 percent of the markets a TE needs posted.

The market has Sam LaPorta at 51.5 receiving yards and 4.5 receptions, with a 35% chance to score a touchdown (16, 11 and 15 market sources).

That puts George Kittle 0.2 points ahead of Sam LaPorta on the market projections.

Injury status

George Kittle is not on the injury report.

Sam LaPorta is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 5

Through Week 4, George Kittle played 68 percent of SF snaps, drew 20 percent of the targets, earned 21 percent of the air yards and had 12 percent of the red zone chances.

George Kittle, Week 1 against LAR: 30 of 65 snaps, 5 targets and 2 catches for 12 yards.

George Kittle, Week 2 against MIA: 25 of 52 snaps, 4 targets and 4 catches for 80 yards, 1 touchdown.

George Kittle, Week 3 against ARI: 46 of 54 snaps, 7 targets and 6 catches for 82 yards, 2 touchdowns.

George Kittle, Week 4 against DEN: 60 of 66 snaps, 6 targets and 4 catches for 70 yards, 1 touchdown.

Through Week 4, Sam LaPorta played 87 percent of DET snaps, drew 20 percent of the targets, earned 15 percent of the air yards and had 16 percent of the red zone chances.

Sam LaPorta, Week 1 against NO: 62 of 77 snaps, 8 targets and 5 catches for 48 yards.

Sam LaPorta, Week 2 against BUF: 64 of 65 snaps, 7 targets and 6 catches for 52 yards, 1 touchdown.

Sam LaPorta, Week 3 against NYJ: 60 of 65 snaps, 4 targets and 3 catches for 44 yards.

Sam LaPorta, Week 4 against CAR: 56 of 71 snaps, 13 targets and 8 catches for 84 yards, 1 touchdown.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, George Kittle played 11 games for SF and scored 161.5 PPR points, 14.7 a game, finishing TE13.

He caught 57 of 69 targets for 628 yards and 7 touchdowns, with 12 red zone targets and 376 air yards.

He was on the field for 80 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

In 2025, Sam LaPorta played 9 games for DET and scored 106.9 PPR points, 11.9 a game, finishing TE27.

He caught 40 of 49 targets for 489 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 4 red zone targets and 215 air yards.

He was on the field for 90 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 5 calls

• Start George Kittle over Brenton Strange.
• Start Brock Bowers over George Kittle.
• Start George Kittle over Cade Otton.
• Start Brock Bowers over Sam LaPorta.
• Start Sam LaPorta over Dalton Kincaid.
• Start Sam LaPorta over Harold Fannin Jr..