Colston Loveland

Colston Loveland finished the regular season top-5 among TEs in PFF receiving grade and yards per route run (1.97). From Week 7 onward...the Bears TE ranked top-5 in targets, catches and yards (26% target rate and TE4 in PPG at 11.1). Only Trey McBride had more receiving yards per game (61/game) compared to the Bears' TE.
The former Michigan product went NUCLEAR in the first round of the playoffs: Loveland recorded 8 receptions for 137 yards on 15 targets against the Packers, with the majority of his production coming when he created separation. Loveland generated 111 yards on 6 receptions (10 targets) when wide open (3+ yards of separation), while adding 94 yards on 4 receptions (6 targets) on vertical routes. The rookie tight end particularly excelled against zone coverage, where he hauled in all 8 of his receptions for 137 yards on 13 targets via Next Gen Stats.
Cole Kmet also has an out in his contract, so the team could move on from him to shift MORE focus toward Loveland. The Bears' offense did so over the team's last four games when Loveland commanded a whopping 28.5% target share (nearly 12 targets per game).

Colston Loveland caught a team-high 10 passes, on 13 targets, for 91 yards and a score in the Bears' 19-16 loss to the Lions on Sunday.

Fantasy Impact

Loveland, the first-round pick out of Michigan, is starting to get hot at the right time for the Bears. Over the last two weeks, the tight end has caught 16 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. After a slow start to the season (11 catches in the first six weeks), Loveland has caught 47 passes over his last ten games. He will look to remain a focal point of the offense during the postseason.