Colston Loveland or Juwan Johnson: Who Should You Start?

Preliminary board

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

Verdicts sharpen as practice reports land.

Loveland's scoring environment turns a small projection edge into the safer TE start

Loveland is the better start because his TE1 mismatch role is paired with a game environment that should create more scoring chances, making the 1.32-point model edge more meaningful at tight end. Johnson's target involvement and red-zone mismatch profile are real strengths, but they are attached to a lower-scoring offense and a less secure weekly ranking; his strong last outing is encouraging, not a stable baseline. The risk with Loveland is modest target volume: his role is clear, but his early sample has not yet shown a large share, while Johnson can win if his touchdown-oriented usage converts.

What flips it: A confirmed increase in Johnson's goal-line role or a late downgrade to Loveland.

AI editor

Colston Loveland

Colston Loveland

TE3CHIvs MIN

Projected Points

Start
Juwan Johnson

Juwan Johnson

TE16NOvs BAL

Projected Points

Toss-Up· medium

Colston Loveland’s market

ATD
Anytime TD
+190
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Juwan Johnson’s market

ATD
Anytime TD
+250
Anytime Touchdown Props →
MIN@
CHISun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ETView the game →
NO@
BALSun, Sep 20, 1:00 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 flex alignment creates multiple ways to score, rather than relying solely on a touchdown.
  • Chicago's favored script should support Loveland's TE1 role throughout the game.

Latest on Loveland

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ESPN · Sep 3, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Juwan Johnson

Toss-Up· medium

TE1 and high-volume pass-catcher. Big-bodied converted receiver who is a red-zone and intermediate mismatch.

TE16 with an 84% snap share and 14% target share, but a 19.5 implied total and a rank-12 DvP matchup cap the ceiling.

  • Johnson's converted-receiver background gives him a path to beat the call if New Orleans must throw late.
  • His red-zone mismatch ability preserves touchdown upside despite the weaker offensive setup.

The call

  • Role is locked in: 84% snap share and a 14% target share make him the clear TE1 in this offense, which is why he holds TE16 value at 8.9 projected points.
  • The matchup works against him — Baltimore grades 12 of 32 versus tight ends (32 = softest), and the sample is one game with 0.00 confidence, so there's no soft spot to chase.
  • Vegas paints a low-scoring day for New Orleans: 19.5 implied team total as a 7.5-point underdog. Chasing points should keep the passing volume up, but red-zone equity is thin.
  • Tip it toward start if your alternative is a committee TE with sub-70% snaps; sit him if you have a TE attached to a team totaling 24-plus.

Latest on Johnson

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ESPN · Sep 7, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricColston LovelandJuwan Johnson
Projected points
Consensus rankTE3TE16
Opponent vs positionMIN · 14 of 321-game sampleBAL · 12 of 321-game sample
Receptions14 of 325 of 32
Receiving Yards31 of 322 of 32
Receiving TDs1 of 3221 of 32
Targets24 of 3211 of 32
Anytime TD1 of 3220 of 32
Target share8%14%
Reception share0%9%
Implied total · spread24.5-3.519.5+7.5
Depth chartTE1TE1
Snap share87%84%
Start/Sit record—0–0+2 toss-ups

Recent form

Colston Loveland — last 1 week

Week 1vs CAR

Juwan Johnson — last 1 week

Week 1vs DET

Signal breakdown

  • 11.3 vs 8.9 projected PPR pointsColston Loveland +
  • Rank 3 vs 16Colston Loveland +
  • Opponent DvP rank 14 vs 12 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 24.5 vs 19.5 team pointsColston Loveland +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 87% vs 84% snap shareColston Loveland +

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