Colston Loveland or Gunnar Helm: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Loveland wins on standing and scoring outlook—not on receiving role

Loveland’s consensus standing and Chicago’s stronger scoring outlook make him the narrow head-to-head pick, but a 1.8-point projection edge is thin insulation at tight end. The concern is that his snaps have mostly supported blocking rather than receiving, leaving his expected production on shaky footing (SI.com (Bears On SI) 2026-09-22). Helm has the clearer current path to targets, but both remain sits on the published board; Loveland is the better comparison, not a must-start.

What flips it: Loveland staying blocker-first while Helm sustains his early receiving involvement (SI.com (Bears On SI) 2026-09-22; Giants.com 2026-09-24).

Sources: SI.com (Bears On SI) · Sep 22, 2026 · Giants.com · Sep 24, 2026

AI editor

Colston Loveland

Colston Loveland

TE3CHIvs PHI

Projected Points

Sit
Gunnar Helm

Gunnar Helm

TE24TENvs NYG

Projected Points

Sit

Colston Loveland’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
-108 / -118
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 34.5
-114 / -110
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+295
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Gunnar Helm’s market

REC
O/U 2.5
-125 / -102
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 21.5
-113 / -113
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+550
Anytime Touchdown Props →
PHI@
CHIMon, Sep 28, 8:15 PM ETView the game →
TEN@
NYGSun, Sep 27, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Colston Loveland

Sit

TE1 and pass-catching mismatch. Seam-stretching move tight end with flex alignment and rising target volume.

Sit — TE3 consensus, projects TE16 this week: PHI is the 2nd-toughest matchup vs TEs, 24.0 implied team total.

  • Chicago’s scoring outlook gives Loveland’s strong consensus standing a plausible path to pay off.
  • His blocker-first usage is the risk: playing time has not translated into dependable receiving involvement (SI.com (Bears On SI) 2026-09-22).

Latest on Loveland

Role

Loveland has been almost invisible through two games with just one catch for three yards on five targets, and his primary role has instead been as a blocker, including being responsible for the block on the game-ending sack allowed against Minnesota.

SI.com (Bears On SI) · Sep 22, 2026
'No block, no rock' is not just a mantra for Bears' offense

When even the "little guys" are getting a hat on a hat, it's that much easier to post 59 points and over 500 yards.

ESPN · Sep 16, 2026
Colston Loveland's Week 2 preview
VideoESPN · Sep 16, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Gunnar Helm

Sit

Starting TE and volume underneath target. Reliable seam and checkdown option with developing in-line blocking.

Sit — bench-tier TE at consensus TE24: 16% target share, 7.9 PPR projected vs NYG.

  • Helm’s underneath role gives him a more concrete route to targets right now.
  • He is already among Tennessee’s more-used pass catchers, a meaningful counter to Loveland’s uncertain receiving role (Giants.com 2026-09-24).

Latest on Helm

Role

Gunnar Helm is tied for second on the Titans with six receptions and seven targets through the first two weeks of 2026.

Giants.com · Sep 24, 2026

Head-to-head stats

MetricColston LovelandGunnar Helm
Projected points
Consensus rankTE3TE24
Opponent vs positionPHI · 2 of 322-game sampleNYG · 20 of 322-game sample
Receptions3 of 3227 of 32
Receiving Yards2 of 3220 of 32
Receiving TDs1 of 3215 of 32
Targets3 of 3224 of 32
Anytime TD1 of 3213 of 32
Target share9%16%
Reception share2%19%
Implied total · spread24.0-1.520.8+3.0
Depth chartTE1TE1
Snap share87%82%

Recent form

Colston Loveland — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs MIN
Week 1vs CAR

Gunnar Helm — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs PHI
Week 1vs NYJ

Signal breakdown

  • 9.7 vs 7.9 projected PPR pointsColston Loveland +
  • Rank 3 vs 24Colston Loveland +
  • Opponent DvP rank 2 vs 20 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 24.0 vs 20.8 team pointsColston Loveland +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 87% vs 82% snap shareColston Loveland +

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