Colston Loveland or Hunter Henry: Who Should You Start?

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

Loveland wins the comparison on upside, but the blocker-first role keeps him a sit

Loveland’s much stronger consensus standing and Chicago’s better scoring outlook outweigh Henry’s slight projection edge in this comparison. That advantage is not a green light: Philadelphia is the tougher matchup, and the SI report says Loveland has been nearly invisible as a receiver while working primarily as a blocker (SI.com (Bears On SI) 2026-09-22). Henry has the more dependable receiving role and the easier matchup, so he is a reasonable alternative—but Loveland’s current role is the risk that keeps him a sit for a normal lineup decision.

What flips it: A confirmed shift for Loveland from blocking duties back to designed receiving work.

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

AI editor

Colston Loveland

Colston Loveland

TE3CHIvs PHI

Projected Points

Sit
Hunter Henry

Hunter Henry

TE18NEvs JAX

Projected Points

Toss-Up· medium

Colston Loveland’s market

ATD
Anytime TD
+380
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Hunter Henry’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
-165 / +129
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 41.5
-112 / -112
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+245
Anytime Touchdown Props →
PHI@
CHIMon, Sep 28, 8:15 PM ETView the game →
NE@
JAXSun, 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 TE14 this week: PHI is the 2nd-toughest matchup vs TEs, 24.0 implied team total.

  • His TE1 label and alignment versatility offer more upside if Chicago restores his pass-catching role.
  • The current blocker-first usage makes that upside difficult to trust.

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 Hunter Henry

Toss-Up· medium

TE1 and volume pass-catcher. Dependable seam and red-zone target with in-line blocking chops.

84% snaps and a 15% target share keep Henry usable, but TE18 with a top-10 toughest DvP draw and a 22.0 implied total is a coin flip.

  • Henry’s established volume gives you a steadier path to usable points.
  • His comparatively friendlier matchup helps offset New England’s less favorable scoring outlook.

The call

  • Role is locked: 84% snap share and a 15% target share over two games make him New England's clear primary tight end, and there's no injury designation.
  • The matchup works against him — Jacksonville grades 10 of 32 in DvP versus tight ends (32 = softest), though the 2-game sample carries 0.00 confidence, so don't over-weight it.
  • A 22.0 implied team total in a 1.5-point game caps the ceiling; 10.6 projected points and a TE18 consensus rank sit just outside the every-week 12-team starter tier.
  • Tipping point: if your alternative is a sub-9-point streamer, play Henry for the target floor; if you have a top-12 TE or a matchup-proof option, sit him.

Head-to-head stats

MetricColston LovelandHunter Henry
Projected points
Consensus rankTE3TE18
Opponent vs positionPHI · 2 of 322-game sampleJAX · 10 of 322-game sample
Receptions3 of 324 of 32
Receiving Yards2 of 3214 of 32
Receiving TDs1 of 3215 of 32
Targets3 of 322 of 32
Anytime TD1 of 3213 of 32
Target share9%15%
Reception share2%16%
Implied total · spread24.0-1.522.0+1.5
Depth chartTE1TE1
Snap share87%84%
Start/Sit record—0–0+2 toss-ups

Recent form

Colston Loveland — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs MIN
Week 1vs CAR

Hunter Henry — last 2 weeks

Week 2vs PIT
Week 1vs SEA

Signal breakdown

  • 9.7 vs 10.1 projected PPR pointsHunter Henry +
  • Rank 3 vs 18Colston Loveland +
  • Opponent DvP rank 2 vs 10 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 24.0 vs 22.0 team pointsColston Loveland +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 87% vs 84% snap shareColston Loveland +

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