Colston Loveland or Mark Andrews: 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 workload wins a close call over Andrews

Loveland gets the nod because his TE3 standing and every-down role provide the cleaner weekly foundation. Andrews has the better scoring environment and a far stronger target concentration, so the projected gap understates how live his upside is. Still, the matchup data offers no meaningful separation, and Loveland’s 87% snap role is the tiebreaker in a tight-end decision this close. The risk is that his modest target share fails to support the premium ranking.

What flips it: A surprise change to Loveland’s TE1 role.

AI editor

Colston Loveland

Colston Loveland

TE3CHIvs MIN

Projected Points

Start
Mark Andrews

Mark Andrews

TE15BALvs NO

Projected Points

Start· medium

Colston Loveland’s market

Mark Andrews’s market

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.

  • Loveland’s mismatch profile gives his heavy snap role multiple ways to pay off beyond a touchdown.
  • His modest target share is the clear weakness; the call depends on his routes becoming steadier volume.

Latest on Loveland

In advance of the biggest draft weekend, Liz Loza reveals her strongest thoughts to help you have a successful draft.

ESPN · Sep 3, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Mark Andrews

Start· medium

TE1 and red-zone mismatch. Veteran seam-stretcher with strong hands and quarterback rapport.

25% target share and 72% snaps in a 27-point implied offense — Andrews is a top-12 TE role even with a TE15 projection.

  • Andrews’ concentrated role is the strongest counter, especially with his red-zone mismatch skill.
  • A 72% snap role leaves less margin if Baltimore’s lead produces a broader distribution of work.

The call

  • A 25% target share is elite for the position; Andrews is the clear passing-game focal point at TE with a 72% snap share and no injury designation.
  • Baltimore's 27.0 implied total and -7.5 spread point to a high-scoring, red-zone-heavy script, which is exactly where Andrews cashes in on touchdowns.
  • The DvP composite of 12 of 32 reads mildly unfavorable, but it's a 1-game sample with 0.00 confidence — not enough to override the usage.
  • Risk is the 10.1 projection and TE15 label: if Baltimore builds a lead and leans run, the volume ceiling narrows to a 6-8 point day.

Head-to-head stats

MetricColston LovelandMark Andrews
Projected points
Consensus rankTE3TE15
Opponent vs positionMIN · 14 of 321-game sampleNO · 12 of 321-game sample
Receptions14 of 3218 of 32
Receiving Yards31 of 3217 of 32
Receiving TDs1 of 321 of 32
Targets24 of 3224 of 32
Anytime TD1 of 321 of 32
Target share8%25%
Reception share0%24%
Implied total · spread24.5-3.527.0-7.5
Depth chartTE1TE1
Snap share87%72%
Start/Sit record01

Recent form

Colston Loveland — last 1 week

Week 1vs CAR

Mark Andrews — last 1 week

Week 1vs IND

Signal breakdown

  • 11.3 vs 10.1 projected PPR pointsColston Loveland +
  • Rank 3 vs 15Colston Loveland +
  • Opponent DvP rank 14 vs 12 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 24.5 vs 27.0 team pointsMark Andrews +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 87% vs 72% snap shareColston Loveland +

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