Colston Loveland

Last week, Colston Loveland had a 78.4% route share, which was nice to see, but I don't think that it continues with Luther Burden back. Last week, with Rome Odunze and Luther Burden both out, the team utilized Loveland and Cole Kmet with route shares north of 75.7%. I think that was due to the team being thin in receiving options. With Luther Burden back this week, I expect Olamide Zaccheaus to return to his slot role, while Burden will rotate from the perimeter to the slot, and Loveland and Kmet will be back in the 60% route share range. Since Week 10, Loveland has been the TE16 in fantasy points per game with two TE1 weekly scoring outings. Since Week 10, Loveland has had a 14% target share with 42 receiving yards per game, 1.92 yards per route run, and a 16.5% first-read share. Since Week 10, he has had five red zone targets and one deep target. Since Week 10, the 49ers have allowed the eighth-most receiving yards and the second-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. Loveland is a borderline TE1 this week.

Colston Loveland hauled in three of his four targets for 30 yards in the Bears' 22-16 Week 16 win over the Packers.

Fantasy Impact

Loveland has struggled to make a consistent impact in the Chicago passing attack, finishing with less than 50 receiving yards in five of his last six games. The tight end remains a difficult option for fantasy managers to trust ahead of a Week 17 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers.