Colston Loveland or Jaylen Waddle: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 2 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Loveland’s TE3 floor edges Waddle’s bigger-play upside

Start Loveland: his TE3 standing and near-every-down role provide the sturdier floor, while Chicago’s stronger scoring outlook adds touchdown access. Waddle has the higher raw projection and more explosive WR2 upside, but his thinner playing-time base makes that edge less reliable; NBC Sports 2026-09-15 expects him to return to that upside role after Week 1. This is a narrow call, and Loveland’s modest target share is the clearest threat to the recommendation.

What flips it: Waddle returning to his expected upside-WR2 role after Week 1.

Sources: NBC Sports · Sep 15, 2026

AI editor

Colston Loveland

Colston Loveland

TE3CHIvs MIN

Projected Points

Start
Jaylen Waddle

Jaylen Waddle

WR21DENvs JAX

Projected Points

Start· medium

Colston Loveland’s market

REC
O/U 4.5
-107 / -120
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 48.5
-113 / -113
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+190
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Jaylen Waddle’s market

REC
O/U 4.5
+103 / -131
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 54.5
-115 / -115
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+185
Anytime Touchdown Props →
MIN@
CHISun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
JAX@
DENSun, Sep 20, 4:05 PM ETView the game →

Why Colston Loveland

Start

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

Start — every-week TE start at consensus TE3: 24.5 implied team total, 8% target share.

  • His TE1 mismatch profile gives the favorable Chicago script multiple ways to pay off.
  • The risk is target concentration: his current role can produce a quiet week if touchdowns miss.

Latest on Loveland

'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 Jaylen Waddle

Start· medium

Starting WR2 with elite separation speed. Twitchy route runner and vertical threat working opposite the X.

WR21 consensus with a 12.8-point projection and a 78% snap share — every-week starter territory in 12-team PPR despite a mid-tier JAX matchup.

  • Waddle’s vertical skill gives him the matchup-breaking ceiling Loveland lacks.
  • A 75% snap role can limit his splash-play chances even when the offense rebounds.

The call

  • Consensus WR21 at 12.8 projected PPR points is comfortably above replacement level at the position in a 12-team league.
  • Role is locked in: 78% snap share over 16 games in 2025 means he's on the field for essentially the full route tree, and he carries no injury designation.
  • The Jacksonville matchup grades 10 of 32 (tougher half) but that composite comes off a single game with 0.00 confidence — not enough signal to bench a starting-caliber WR.
  • Only real flag is the 11% target share, but that's a one-game 2026 sample; if it holds for another week or two, his weekly ceiling deserves a re-look.

Latest on Waddle

Role

Waddle was largely shut down in the Week 1 loss to Kansas City (part of a broader Broncos offensive collapse) and will look to return to his expected upside-WR2 role when Denver hosts Jacksonville in Week 2.

NBC Sports · Sep 15, 2026
Jaylen Waddle's impact goes beyond the numbers

Jeff Legwold explains how Jaylen Waddle's presence could create more opportunities for the Broncos' other receivers.

VideoESPN · Sep 13, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricColston LovelandJaylen Waddle
Projected points
Consensus rankTE3WR21
Opponent vs positionMIN · 14 of 321-game sampleJAX · 10 of 321-game sample
Receptions14 of 324 of 32
Receiving Yards31 of 3216 of 32
Receiving TDs1 of 3213 of 32
Targets24 of 324 of 32
Anytime TD1 of 3213 of 32
Target share8%11%
Reception share0%6%
Implied total · spread24.5-3.523.0-2.5
Depth chartTE1WR1
Snap share87%75%

Recent form

Colston Loveland — last 1 week

Week 1vs CAR

Jaylen Waddle — last 1 week

Week 1vs KC

Signal breakdown

  • 11.4 vs 12.1 projected PPR pointsJaylen Waddle +
  • Rank 3 vs 21Colston Loveland +
  • Opponent DvP rank 14 vs 10 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 24.5 vs 23.0 team pointsColston Loveland +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 87% vs 75% snap shareColston Loveland +

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