Fantasy Football Tight End Start/Sit Decisions: Colston Loveland, Brenton Strange, and More
Looking at three tight ends who have been compared often to Colston Loveland on FantasySP's Who Should I Start? tool.
Based on recent history, rookie tight ends are intriguing fantasy players. Sam LaPorta set rookie TE records in 2023, then Brock Bowers came and smashed each of those numbers last season. For a position that was notorious for needing a few years to get up to speed, the top-drafted tight ends now have an expectation to produce right away.
That's a dangerous assumption; most rookies at every position take time to really settle in. That hasn't stopped the hype train around two early picks in this year's draft, and the first one taken, Chicago's Colston Loveland, has been one of the most common players compared on our FantasySP Who Should I Start? tool.
Let's look at Loveland versus the three guys he has been compared against most: Brenton Strange, Cade Otton, and Zach Ertz. We'll go through the Chicago tight end's case first and then compare him to each of the other three, with a full ranking listed at the bottom.
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Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings
This game doesn't take place until Monday night, but we have to make decisions earlier, as each of the other three play in the first round of Sunday games. Loveland was the 10th overall pick, seen as a player who can make an impact right away as both a blocker and pass catcher. He's likely to have a big role in the future.
His path might be a little blocked this year, though, as veteran Cole Kmet is still in the lineup, and might be ahead of Loveland in the pecking order. Kmet is a solid but unspectacular veteran; he has the better floor this season, but Loveland has the far better ceiling, particularly moving forward.
The question is how much each player will be on the field. I treat this kind of like a split backfield in that neither running back has as much fantasy value as if the other weren't around. These two tight ends will likely take away from each other a bit. Until we see it in action, I'm skeptical of counting on either guy.
The matchup isn't great here either. Minnesota had some moving parts on defense this offseason, but they have a strong stable of players on paper and were 10th best in yards per pass attempt allowed and fifth best in points per game allowed last season. Specific to the position, the Vikings were just outside the top 10 in fewest fantasy points per game given up to tight ends.
With what looks like a tougher matchup and competition for catches both from Kmet and a strong stable of receivers, I don't feel great about counting on Loveland this week if I have another option.
Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Carolina Panthers
Strange finally gets his shot in the starting lineup, stepping in for Evan Engram, who has since departed for Denver. Strange is a similar player to Engram in that they are both more known for their pass catching rather than blocking. That might lower their value a bit for their own team, but it makes them more interesting in fantasy football.
After an anonymous rookie season, Strange got on the field last year when Engram missed some time and accumulated 40 receptions for 411 yards and two touchdowns. That's decent production for a part-time player and makes him an intriguing guy in 2025.
The matchup here is also pristine, as the Panthers gave up the fourth-most yards per pass attempt and the most points per game in 2024. I have been way up on his quarterback, Trevor Lawrence, so I'm also feeling good about Strange having an impact in Week 1. With a new offensive head coach and what looks like a decent supporting cast, the Jacksonville passing game could see real improvements this year.
Advice: Start Brenton Strange over Colston Loveland
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons
Otton is kind of the epitome of the streaming tight end, never putting up consistently strong games that make him a weekly fantasy starter but productive enough to be intriguing in the right circumstances. Despite playing just 14 games last season, Otton set career highs with 59 receptions on 87 targets for 600 yards and four touchdowns (the TDs were tied with 2023 for his high).
Part of that may have come from a dearth of pass catchers around him after Chris Godwin was hurt halfway through the season. Well, Week 1 has much of the same outlook, as Godwin is still recovering from a dislocated ankle and Jalen McMillan is out for at least a month (and maybe more). There is an opportunity for Otton to be part of the game plan.
Atlanta was close to an average defense last year by many measures, though they did hemorrhage points at times and rated out poorly by defensive line win rates. The Falcons took steps toward improving the talent on D, drafting pass rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. both in the first round and safety Xavier Watts in the third, but it might take time for the young guys to make a real impact.
This is a case of a middling player who might get some action against a middling defense. That's what makes the streaming world go round. Otton has a little intrigue because of the lack of competition for targets.
Advice: Start Cade Otton over Colston Loveland
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders vs. New York Giants
Ertz is a decorated player who is likely on his last legs at 34 years old. It looked like he might have been cooked after two years marred with injury and wavering effectiveness, but Ertz bounced back last season with 66 receptions on 91 targets for 654 yards and seven touchdowns. Each of those numbers were his highest since 2021 aside from the TDs, which were his most since 2018.
Now in his second year with Jayden Daniels, it could be expected that Ertz could be even more effective, but I'm a little skeptical. His age is the major factor; tight ends can hang often hang on longer than receivers, but Ertz will be 35 in November and has to be assumed to decline with each passing year. With Deebo Samuel Sr. and Noah Brown now part of the receiving group, there also might be fewer targets to go around.
New York might be an improved defense this year. They were good in limiting passing yards per game last year, but they were in the bottom 10 in terms of yards per attempt allowed, making their lower per-game volume more about teams not needing to throw all over the Giants. They have built a strong defensive line and pass rush group, including third overall pick Abdul Carter, and rated out better than average in terms of both pass rush win rate and run stop win rate in 2024.
Ertz is an OK player if you really don't have anywhere else to turn, but I like plenty of other players better. His status as the team's top tight end keeps him afloat for now, but I'll be watching closely.
Advice: Start Zach Ertz over Colston Loveland, but it's very close
Week 1 Rankings
Here is how I rank each of the four players listed here today:
- Brenton Strange, JAC
- Cade Otton, TB
- Zach Ertz, WAS
- Colston Loveland, CHI
