Is This Bears Rookie Tight End a Target in Fantasy Drafts?
Many fantasy football drafts are right around the corner, and people are still trying to figure out the stars to add to their team. First-round rookies are almost always a hot commodity due to their upside. This is no different for the Bears' 10th overall pick, Colston Loveland. Loveland may come with tons of risk due to the fantasy value in the wide receivers room, but this does not stop the hype he has received. However, is this hype enough to make him a strong target in your draft?
Across Yahoo, ESPN, and Fantasy Pros, Loveland has an average ranking of 13 among all tight ends for fantasy football. This projection would slot him in as a borderline starter, but more in the backup range. These companies are far less optimistic about returning tight end Cole Kmet, as he is unranked on one site and the other two; he carries an average ranking of 32 among tight ends. These rankings may not accurately reflect the plays that will be shared by the two; however, they do account for the value each has. Kmet is not set to gain enough targets to be fantasy relevant, whereas Loveland has the potential to be an every-week starter.
Tight ends are widely used in the Ben Johnson system. In past years, this was with the likes of Sam Laporta, who was always a threat to be the top tight end weekly. So far throughout the preseason, the positional usage has carried over. On just the first drive of the preseason game against the Bills. Loveland and Kmet combined for three catches for 55 yards from Caleb Williams. If this is a sign of things to come, then scooping Loveland up later in drafts could be a wise decision.
Speaking of drafts, the strategy behind tight ends is very debatable. However, many would agree there is a clean split from the top guys to the rest of the crowd. If you miss the top range and are not happy with the next range, then waiting on the tight end position could be a solid decision. If you decide to wait, then this rookie first-round pick carries potential to be a high-reward fantasy option.
