Lions’ Sam LaPorta, a Highland native, now a ‘must have’ for fantasy football teams

National Football League teams pared their rosters down to the required 53 players on Tuesday.

Among the rookies making their team’s cut was Highland native Sam LaPorta. Detroit’s second-round draft pick and the NFL’s 34th overall selection is already expected to make a big impact on the Lions’ offense.

LaPorta, a 6-5, 245-pound tight end, from the University Of Iowa, developed chemistry with Lions’ quarterback during training camp and, according to Mlive.com’s Kyle Meinke, was Goff’s second favorite target, especially in got-to-move-the-chains situations.

That makes LaPorta a potential red-zone target for Goff as well, Meinke predicted.

Despite being Iowa’s leader receiver in his final two seasons, mock draft sites were lukewarm on his prospects, including Draft Network, which called him “a good athlete but not dynamic.”

But San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, also a product of Iowa, told Sports Illustrated that the Lions got a steal in picking LaPorta in the draft.

“I spent two weeks training with Sam LaPorta, and the way he moves — oh yeah, he’s got the dog in him,” Kittle said. “He’s kind of quirky, he’s kind of goofy, too. He’s going to fit in well.”

LaPorta is now capturing the attention of Fantasy Football sites with FantasyPros now calling him “a must-have pick” behind only Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce, and New York Giants tight end Darren Waller.

Roto Street Journal writes that LaPorta has a good chance to make an immediate impact in fantasy football leagues.

And according to NFL Rookie Watch, LaPorta will be the to be the Lions’ “TE1” sooner than later.

Pro Football Network Fantasy also is high on LaPorta, saying he is a very fluid athlete that who regularly creates separation against man-to-man coverage and a nightmare to get to the ground.

Jeff Risdon of Lions wire says that LaPorta says will be counted on immediately to boost the receiving options in Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson’s offense.

LaPorta will get his first chance to help boost the Lions passing game next Thursday when Detroit visits defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City in the 2023 opener.