Colston Loveland vs Jayden Daniels

“Mike ended the round taking his fourth different position of this draft and going with Bears TE Colston Loveland .”

“Sleeper lists Trey McBride at $34, Brock Bowers for $27, and Colston Loveland at a shamefully low $18.”

“Round 3: Colston Loveland (TE – CHI) Colston Loveland is currently going closer to the fourth round in ADP, but the case here is that he’ll settle into a firm third-round price by the time draft season peaks, similar to how the market was slow to catch up on Trey McBride ‘s ascension a year ago.”

“Loveland is the type of talent who can win downfield, which is exactly what you want from your fantasy tight end. As Caleb Williams heads into Year 2 of the Ben Johnson era, expect more familiarity with the scheme, which can help Loveland eclipse 1,000 yards.”

“Colston Loveland turned it on down the stretch last year, showcasing impressive production from Week 7 through Chicago's Divisional Round loss with 67% route participation, 6.9 targets per game, 65 receptions, 852 receiving yards, and 6 receiving touchdowns across 14 games. If his 72.4% route participation rate from the playoffs sticks or takes a step forward, Loveland can be less efficient while still posting monster numbers, putting the overall TE1 in his range of outcomes.”

“Loveland clearly won the favor of Ben Johnson as he had at least 15% of the team's targets in each of the final nine games, ending with 713 total receiving yards. It was a strong showing for the rookie TE, who could very likely lead the team in targets in 2026.”

“Colston Loveland was also in a rotational role for the first 7 weeks, but got his first chance at a full-time role due to Cole Kmet's injury in Week 8. He had a breakout game one week later vs. the Bengals and gradually increased his playing time over the remainder of the season, finally emerging as a true every-down player at the end of the year.”

“Even in a split season of work as a rookie, Loveland showcased his weekly upside. He logged four weeks as a top-three scorer at the position. The only player to match that was Trey McBride, who led the position with eight of those weeks.”

“It took a bit for Loveland to get going as a rookie as he worked his way into the lineup and recovered from an offseason shoulder injury, but the wait was worth it. Over the final five games of the season, Loveland was on the field for 80.9% of the team's dropbacks, receiving a target on 30.5% of his routes with 2.34 yards per route run.”

“Even though he managed just 53 receptions and 713 yards as a rookie, Loveland was fourth at his position in air yards and third in deep targets. If that kind of usage on the field keeps up, Loveland is going to be looking at a ton of deep catches and touchdowns.”

“Colston Loveland started his rookie year slowly but was TE2 in fantasy scoring from Week 9 through the end of the regular season. Over his last four games, the hyper-athletic Loveland averaged 12.0 targets, 7.0 catches, and 94.5 yards, with two touchdowns.”

“Colston Loveland is the heavy favorite to be the third tight end to finish above 200 fantasy points (half-PPR). With the league shifting towards TE-heavy offensive sets, we could see snaps across the position skyrocket.”

“Going from Cam Ward to Jayden Daniels this year is an upgrade at the quarterback position, which only strengthens his chances at cracking the top 12”

“Lamar Jackson , Jayden Daniels , Joe Burrow , Baker Mayfield , and Kyler Murray all were selected as top-12 players at the position and finished double-digit slots behind expectations in terms of points per game.”

“The rushing upside of Jayden Daniels tempted me, but the Bengals’ schedule should be excellent for Burrow and the passing attack.”

“After a sublime 2024 rookie season in which he threw for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns, ran for 891 yards and six touchdowns, and was named Offensive Rookie of the Year, Daniels played only seven games in 2025 due to elbow, knee and ankle injuries. When he was healthy, Daniels was a far less efficient passer than he had been in 2024, averaging only 6.7 yards per pass attempt and completing 60.6% of his throws in 2025 (down from 7.4 YPA and a 69.0% completion rate as a rookie).”

“Von Miller spoke about choosing the Commanders, saying "with the Washington Commanders, I just felt like Jayden Daniels was poised for another great season. His rookie season went all the way to the NFC Championship, and last year, he got hit with injuries, not just at the quarterback position, but all over the place."”

“With Terry McLaurin limited to 10 games last season, Deebo Samuel and Zach Ertz were the top two target options in the offense. Neither has been re-signed, and both remain free agents. After last year's injuries and less proven talent around him, the risk far outweighs the reward of selecting Daniels at his current ADP.”

“When Daniels did play a complete game, he was still productive for fantasy. In those weeks, he posted 19.6 fantasy points per game, which would have been QB7 for the season. He scored at least 15 fantasy points in six of his seven appearances, showing he still has a high floor.”

“Assuming he can see time on the field in that same role with Jayden Daniels at quarterback, he will generate significant fantasy points with his efficiency.”

“Washington's fortunes revolve around the health of Jayden Daniels. The positive is that before injuries derailed his 2025 season, he still flashed franchise-quarterback traits, and the team was competitive.”

“Daniels struggled with knee, hamstring and elbow injuries last season, and his durability is going to be in question until he can stay healthy for 17 games across multiple seasons. However, as long as he's healthy, Daniels brings the kind of rushing upside that only a handful of quarterbacks can match.”

“Jayden Daniels was a disappointment even before he got hurt. His passing numbers were down, and he only averaged 39.7 rushing yards per game prior to his injury.”

“Jayden Daniels started only seven games. A healthier season at quarterback should allow them to close the turnover margin this season.”