Dynasty Rookie Report Card: Sam LaPorta and Eric Gray
Each week throughout the 2023 NFL season, I’ll cover two rookies in the Rookie Report Card and will generally write about the most prominent performers from that particular week. I’ll discuss how well he’s lived up to expectations at the NFL level, and then I’ll grade the player in three categories: their performance to date, rookie season potential, and long-term upside.
Sam LaPorta, TE DET
Week 4 stats: Three receptions on four targets for 47 yards and two touchdowns; 19.7 PPR points, TE5 on the week.
I’ve wanted to write about LaPorta since week one, but we keep getting some guys that pop up and may not have a better game the rest of the season. During the week one matchup with Kansas City, I knew LaPorta was here to stay, and I could wait to give him his report card. Let’s get to know him after his week five performance as a top-five tight end.
LaPorta played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes from 2019 to 2022. He finished his career with 153 receptions for 1,786 yards and five touchdowns. He is the all-time leader among Iowa tight ends in receptions and is second in receiving yards. Those are extremely impressive accolades when considering the other names at the position to be drafted in the NFL. LaPorta had more collegiate receptions than tight ends like George Kittle, TJ Hockenson, Noah Fant, and Dallas Clark. He was named the Kwalick–Clark Tight End of the Year in 2022 after recording 58 receptions for 657 yards. He was also a second-team All-Big Ten selection in 2022.
On the field, LaPorta showed extremely reliable hands in the passing game and used his athleticism to make incredible plays in the open field. He was the Hawkeye’s featured receiver in his final two seasons – earning a 28% target share in 2022. He wins with deep speed, and yards after the catch on short-field routes and screen passes. His versatility allows him to be moved all over the formation.
In week five, he scored his first touchdown lined up in the backfield and just ran a quick out route and had the body control to quickly turn up the field, dance up the sideline, and break the plane for the score. His second touchdown came on a double flea-flicker where LaPorta was lined up behind the right guard, faked like he was blocking, and then blazed up the right sideline, beating every defender in an impressive display of his sub-4.6 speed.
Among NFL tight ends this season who have run routes on at least 70% of dropbacks, LaPorta ranks second in targets per route run with 24% and is tied for fourth with Travis Kelce, earning a 21% target share. The things he is doing from an efficiency standpoint are truly impressive for a rookie tight end. The only threat to LaPorta’s production is Jameson Williams if he ever gets fully integrated into the offense. There is some evidence that Williams is just not good, though. In his return in week five, he managed just two catches for two yards.
We are in the midst of collecting October ADP, and I expect him to rise dramatically from his current ADP on the site of TE11 at 112 overall. In my rankings, he is TE2 behind only Mark Andrews. I see an argument for placing him anywhere within the top six, even TE1.
Eric Gray, RB NYG
Week 4 stats: 12 carries for 25 yards, one reception on one target for one yard, 2.6 PPR points, RB45 on the week.
Gray didn’t have a good game in week five, but he did see a dramatic uptick in usage, so I thought it was prudent to highlight him here in case Saquon Barkley is back from injury in week six and we don’t see Gray get significant work again in 2023. Gray didn’t see the field on offense in the first four games, but in week five, he earned 44% of the snaps and a 48% rushing share. He wasn’t efficient on his carries but looked better than either Matt Brieda or Gary Brightwell have while Barkley has been out. When Barkley does return, I would guess Gray goes back to being a contributor on special teams. Let’s get to know his prospect profile.
Gray played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers from 2019 to 2020 and the Oklahoma Sooners from 2021 to 2022. He finished his career with 3,089 rushing yards, 39 rushing touchdowns, 91 receptions, and seven receiving touchdowns.
Gray was a four-star recruit coming out of high school and made an impact at Tennessee as a sophomore, rushing for 772 yards and four touchdowns and catching 30 balls for 254 receiving yards and two touchdowns. After the 2020 season, Gray transferred to Oklahoma. Gray rushed for 412 yards and two touchdowns in his first season with the Sooners while backing up Kennedy Brooks. He finally took over the Sooner backfield his senior season and broke out for 1,366 yards and 11 touchdowns. He added 33 receptions for 229 yards. He was named the 2020 TaxSlayer Bowl MVP and was
Gray was a dynamic running back in college who had the size and skill set to be a three-down back and was a threat to score every time he touched the ball. He showed above-average vision when running between the tackles and made sharp cuts without losing speed. Gray is elusive when running inside, picking through, and stepping over trash at the line while maintaining forward momentum. He brings true receiving back ability. He’s an effective route runner who can be used in the passing game as more than just a receiver out of the backfield, which makes him the perfect direct backup to someone like Saquon Barkley.
For a bit this off-season, it looked like Barkley might not play for the Giants in 2023, but once he signed the one-year deal to keep him in New York, Gray’s ADP plummeted to the barely being drafted range. We’ll likely have to wait until 2024 to see Gray get a real opportunity to compete for the starting role. That’s assuming Barkley does move on after this season. Gray’s range of outcomes is massive, with Barkley out of the picture.
Creator and Co-host of Dynasty Game night, the fantasy football game show.
Creator and host of the Zookeeper Stories podcast.
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