It seemed only the Detroit Lions knew tight end T.J. Hockenson wasn’t in their long-term plans when it came to the NFL’s 2022 trade deadline.
The former No. 8 overall pick, who was looking to take the final step in becoming an NFL — and fantasy football — namesake was dealt Nov. 1 in the first NFC North inter-division trade involving a player since 1998.
Hockenson, landing in Minnesota, gave Detroit two picks in the first and second rounds of the 2023 NFL Draft. At the time, the Lions were 1-6, but they quickly finished as one game out of a playoff spot and blocked their North rival, Green Bay, from reaching the postseason with a Week 18 win.
Many predicted Detroit would use a bulk of its early draft picks on defense after the team finished third-to-last in yards allowed last season, second-worst in yards per attempt, tied for eighth-worst in touchdowns allowed during the season, managing middle-of-the-pack interception numbers (12) and only getting to quarterbacks 39 times in 17 games for a sack.
But, the Lions split their selections.
After taking the first running back off the board at No. 12 in Jamyhr Gibbs and going linebacker with Jack Campbell six picks later, they deemed it time to find Hockenson’s replacement.
The University of Iowa’s Sam LaPorta is hopping over two states to fill an immediate starting role. And likely taking over for the Hawkeye who came before him.
Usually, rookie tight ends don’t draw a lot of eyes in fantasy, but LaPorta should.
LaPorta led the Hawkeyes in receiving the last two seasons and is the university’s all-time leader in receptions for tight ends (153).
Detroit didn’t have a clear-cut starter after trading Hockenson, but quarterback Jared Goff continued to trust the position committeed by Brock Wright, Shane Zylstra and James Mitchell. The 12 total touchdowns by the Lions’ tight end position was a franchise record, another indicator they will again lean on the position during 2023-24.
The 6-foot, 3-inch, nearly 250-pound LaPorta is also a wrecking ball to bring down.
The opportunity for him to step into a starting role with that stature, while Lions’ starting wide receiver Jameson Williams is suspended six games for violating the NFL’s gambling policy, puts him in a position to be a low-end TE1 in fantasy.
LaPorta is The Wolf’s TE3 in his 2023 Rookie Rankings behind the Buffalo Bills’ Dalton Kincaid and the Las Vegas Raiders’ Michael Mayer. While Kincaid is a likely consensus No. 1, Mayer and LaPorta are toss-ups. Both are jumping into tight end openings with inconsistent quarterback play and receiving competition around them.
However, LaPorta could have the edge as Goff’s gameplay is on the rise while Jimmy Garoppolo‘s gameplay is on a steady decline due to injuries. Raiders’ running back Josh Jacobs is also more established with the team compared to rookie Gibbs and David Montgomery, who is on the Lions for the first time.
It should shape up as LaPorta and wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown as the crisp route runners with the ability for the Hawkeye product to reach around 600 yards on the year if he stays healthy and is used for his skills instead of solely a move-blocker, despite the skills he brings as one.
LaPorta also lands at TE22 (+6 vs ECR) on The Wolf’s 2023 Fantasy Rankings.
