Sam LaPorta or Luke Musgrave, Start Em Sit Em: Fantasy Football Outlook for TEs on Week 4 TNF

Sam LaPorta and Luke Musgrave, two standout rookie tight ends, will face off in Week 4 of the 2023 NFL season. LaPorta has been more reliable and is the safer fantasy option.

Sam LaPorta and Luke Musgrave have emerged as two standout rookies in the 2023 fantasy football season. As tight ends, they have exceeded expectations in a position known for its inconsistency. Their strong performances have made them valuable assets in fantasy football, with plenty of potential for further improvement.

In Week 4 of the 2023 NFL season, LaPorta and Musgrave will go head-to-head on Thursday Night Football when the Green Bay Packers host the Detroit Lions. Given their impressive performances so far, it's natural to wonder which player is the better choice for fantasy lineups this week.

The Detroit Lions had a strong overall offense in the 2022 NFL season but lacked a reliable tight end. After trading away T.J. Hockenson, they had one of the weakest tight end groups in the NFL. To address this issue, they selected Sam LaPorta in the 2023 NFL Draft.

LaPorta's college football career at Iowa Hawkeyes worked in his favor, as the school has a history of producing successful NFL tight ends like Hockenson, George Kittle, and Noah Fant. LaPorta aims to join that list of successful tight ends, and he's off to a promising start in his first three games.

In each of the first three weeks of the 2023 NFL season, LaPorta has shown improvement and finished among the top eight fantasy football tight ends in PPR leagues. His targets and yardage have increased consistently, culminating in an impressive Week 3 performance where he had eight receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown, earning him the top spot among all tight ends in fantasy football.

LaPorta has quickly become a favorite target for Jared Goff, potentially second only to wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in the Lions' passing game. This is a valuable distinction considering the high-powered nature of the Lions' offense. With his consistent improvement and important role in the offense, LaPorta's stock is likely to rise as the season progresses.

Next up for LaPorta is a Week 4 matchup against the Green Bay Packers. While the Packers have a strong pass defense, they have struggled against tight ends, allowing the 13th most fantasy points per game to the position. This suggests that Goff may target LaPorta frequently, especially since the Packers are effective at shutting down wide receivers.

Considering all factors, LaPorta is one of the top tight ends to consider for Week 4 of the 2023 fantasy football season.

The Green Bay Packers have shown their commitment to building for the future by making significant changes during the 2023 NFL offseason. Trading Aaron Rodgers marked the beginning of a new era in Green Bay, with Jordan Love taking over as the starting quarterback. The Packers also revamped their offensive weapons, including the tight end position by selecting Luke Musgrave in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Musgrave made an immediate impact in Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season, finishing as the 13th best tight end in fantasy football with three receptions for 50 yards. After a slight dip in Week 2, which is common for rookies, he bounced back in Week 3 with his best performance of the season.

Against the tough New Orleans Saints defense, known for their ability to cover tight ends, Musgrave had six receptions for 49 yards. He doubled his previous bests in receptions and targets, finishing as the 10th best tight end in PPR leagues. This indicates that he is gaining the trust of Jordan Love and could see an increased role in the offense.

Musgrave's next opportunity to continue his progress comes in Week 4 against the Detroit Lions on Thursday Night Football. This presents a favorable matchup for Musgrave, as the Lions currently allow the second most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends.

Considering the Lions' strong defense against wide receivers, it would make sense for Love to target Musgrave frequently and take advantage of the favorable matchup.

With the favorable matchup, steady progress, and recent strong performance, Luke Musgrave is a solid streaming option at tight end for Week 4.

For fantasy managers looking to acquire Sam LaPorta or Luke Musgrave, it is recommended to use the fantasy football trade analyzer as a reference.

According to the Start/Sit Optimizer, Sam LaPorta is the better choice for Week 4 over Luke Musgrave. While both rookies are solid streaming options at the challenging tight end position, LaPorta's consistent involvement in the offense gives him the edge.

One of the main reasons LaPorta is the preferred choice this week is his reliability. He has recorded at least five receptions in every game this season, providing a safer floor compared to most other tight end options. Musgrave, on the other hand, had a disappointing finish as the 37th best tight end in PPR leagues during Week 2.

Considering that both players have similar ceilings for Week 4, Sam LaPorta is the safer option for fantasy lineups.

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