Should I start Sam LaPorta or Xavier Smith this week? Week 8 PPR (2026)

THE FF CALL

Start Sam LaPorta

+10.1 projected edge · PPR

Start Sam LaPorta over Xavier Smith for Week 8 PPR: 10.1 projected points versus 0.0.

Sam LaPorta: 11.3 FP recent scoring average; 10% matchup reduction against MIN.
Xavier Smith: BYE.

Forecast updated Oct 28, 2026, 2:28 AM ET · PPR

FF PICK

Sam LaPorta

TE · DETStats & schedule

10.1FF projected

↓ -0.6 vs ESPN

vs MIN

Sun 1:00 PM ET

THE ALTERNATIVE

Xavier Smith

WR · SFStats & schedule

0.0FF projected

BYE

Check bye / schedule

Why this pick?

Sam LaPorta

Fortified10.1

ESPN10.7

Sleeper11.1

Sam LaPorta faces MIN in Week 8. Recent scoring average: 11.3 fantasy points. The position-specific defensive matchup adjusts the forecast down 10%.

Xavier Smith

Fortified0.0

Sleeper0.0

BYE

Xavier Smith is on bye in Week 8 and projects for 0.0 FP. Sam LaPorta has a scheduled game and projects for 10.1 FP. Confirm his availability before kickoff. FantasyPros projections are temporarily unavailable; they are excluded from this comparison.

Updated Oct 28, 2026, 2:28 AM ET. Projections can change before kickoff.

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Scoring & lineup notes

PPR awards one point per reception; half-PPR awards 0.5; standard awards none. Custom league rules can change the result. Confirm active status, kickoff and lineup locks. Projections are estimates; completed-week scores are actuals.