Colston Loveland heats up for 1/3 vs. Vikings

The Bears broke scoring records in their Week 1 demolition of the Panthers but Loveland — leading the team in pass routes — was largely invisible. Caleb Williams missed a wide open Loveland in the middle of the field in the second half and nearly connected with his second-year tight end in the end zone. Cole Kmet, meanwhile, ran about half of the Bears’ routes and turned three targets into two catches for 35 yards and a score. Loveland is almost certain to bounce back in Week 2 against the Vikings.

This wouldn’t be news under normal circumstances but takes on additional meaning with Rome Odunze listed questionable for Week 1. It is of particular note that the Bears already have five wide receivers on the active roster and still chose to elevate another. While recent reports seemed to indicate a sense of optimism regarding Odunze’s potential availability, he could be on the wrong side of questionable given the recent transaction. Fantasy managers will want to confirm his status when the team releases its inactives 90 minutes prior to first kick. Luther Burden and Colston Loveland would be in line to benefit greatly should Odunze be unable to go.

Per Hammond, Odunze “came up hobbling during an install period at the start of practice,” with what appeared to be a right leg injury. Apparently, Odunze “wasn’t overly concerned” and tried to continue practicing, but Bears trainers removed him from the field. That last bit is encouraging. Hopefully, Odunze’s Week 1 availability has not been jeopardized. Bears TE Colston Loveland and WR Luther Burden would benefit if Odunze cannot play. Odunze is backed up by WR Kalif Raymond.

“I want more than (the Super Bowl),” Johnson told The Athletic. “I want to have the highest-scoring offense ever, which happens to be the 2013 Denver Broncos. I know how many points per game they scored (37.9), and I want to surpass them. I want shutouts. I want blowouts.” It’s enough to make a fantasy manager hyperventilate. The Caleb Williams-led Bears would have a long way to go if they are to eclipse the legendary 2013 Denver offense led by Peyton Manning — an offense that supported a range of viable to high-end fantasy options. Chicago last season ranked ninth in points per game (25.9), just behind the Colts. The Bears ranked tenth in points per offensive snap and 14th in red zone touchdown rate. If the Bears are to somehow challenge the 2013 Broncos, Johnson would likely need to call a far more pass-heavy game than he did in 2025, when the Bears were among the run-heaviest offenses in the NFL. If Johnson is indeed intent on maximizing points, everyone from Williams to Colston Loveland to D’Andre Swift to Rome Odunze to the injured Luther Burden could be major fantasy factors in 2026.

“It’s watching the tape and knowing, like, it was good for a rookie,” Loveland said Tuesday, “but it’s not going to be good enough for a second-year or third-year guy. Knowing that, it’s, ‘All right, flush that. Clean up on the tape and (dial in on) certain things I need to get better at — which is dang near everything.” Colston was dominant late in the season, functioning as Caleb Williams’ top target in January, into the postseason, where he exploded for eight receptions, 137 yards and a two-point conversion catch in a playoff win against Green Bay. Loveland is in no danger of a low route rate in 2026, as head coach Ben Johnson looks to utilize the tight end as a mismatch against opposing secondaries. Loveland could easily lead all tight ends in fantasy scoring this year.

Loveland’s role in the Chicago passing attack grew steadily in the back half of his rookie season and peaked in the postseason, with Loveland shredding the Packers in the Wild Card Round for eight catches and 137 yards. “He’s going to be a weapon for a long time,” head coach Ben Johnson said. Loveland’s route tree expanded in the final couple months of the season, Wiederer said, as Bears coaches and Caleb Williams trusted him as the clear No. 1 pass catcher in the run-first Chicago offense. Loveland should be considered a candidate to lead all tight ends in fantasy scoring next season.

Loveland was injured late in the fourth quarter in Sunday’s loss to the Rams and was not available for any of the team’s offensive snaps in overtime. Loveland, who caught 58 passes for 713 yards and six touchdowns as a rookie, should make a full recovery in the coming days and will be primed for a breakout 2026 campaign after an impressive rookie year.

It took a while for things to start paying off for the Bears, who selected Loveland with the No. 10 overall pick in this year’s draft. Despite a slow start out of the gate that resulted in just 116 scoreless receiving yards through the first eight weeks of the season, Loveland broke out in the second half for 47-597-6 over the final 10 games of the regular season, and went off for 8-137-0 on 15 targets in the Bears’ Wild Card win over the Packers. Loveland was the first tight end taken off the board in this year’s draft and appears to be on the fast track to being one of the best the league has to offer. His strong finish to the season will set the expectations for 2026 extremely high in both the real world and for fantasy managers. He’ll be on a short list for elite tight ends to consider drafting next season and could come at a premium as hype around his sophomore season grows.

Loveland doubled every other Bears’ receiver in targets, and while it wasn’t the most efficient night for the first-round pick, there were some sensational momments. He had a long gain of 27, and he was consistently finding room on the sideline against a Packers’ defense that likely has regrets for how they handled the second half. Loveland will likely be involved again in the Divisional Round versus the Eagles or Rams, but it’s likely he won’t see 15 targets again unless Chicago falls down big.

The talented rookie tight end handily led the team in targets as no other pass-catcher saw more than four looks in the walk-off loss, finding paint with just over five minutes left to play to knot the game at 16. Loveland has proven to be a draft day steal for fantasy managers that took the gamble in the middle rounds of drafts this offseason. He’ll look to keep the momentum going when the Bears host the Packers in the Wild Card round next weekend.