Colston Loveland or Rome Odunze: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 3 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Loveland's snap access edges it, but his blocker role clouds the case
The projection difference is negligible, so Loveland's narrow edge comes from his stronger consensus standing and heavier snap access—not a clearer receiving outlook. That playing time has been blocker-heavy, and he has managed just one catch through two games (SI.com (Bears On SI) 2026-09-22). Odunze has the cleaner wide-receiver role and more direct target involvement, but Loveland gets the head-to-head nod; the real risk is that his snaps still don't turn into routes and catches.
What flips it: Loveland's blocker-first assignment continues to suppress his receiving work.
Sources: SI.com (Bears On SI) · Sep 22, 2026
AI editor
Colston Loveland
5.87.79.7 Projected Points
Rome Odunze
6.88.49.9 Projected Points
Colston Loveland’s market
Rome Odunze’s market
Why Colston Loveland
SitTE1 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.
- The model's edge rests on positional confidence and access to the field, not on a meaningful projection advantage.
- His heavy usage has been primarily as a blocker, limiting what that snap share says about receiving opportunity (SI.com (Bears On SI) 2026-09-22).
Latest on Loveland
Loveland has been on the field for 86.6% of the Bears' offensive snaps through two games, the highest share among offensive players other than Williams or a lineman.
Where has Bears TE Colston Loveland been this season?ESPN · Sep 28, 2026Loveland 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, 2026When even the "little guys" are getting a hat on a hat, it's that much easier to post 59 points and over 500 yards.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Why Rome Odunze
Toss-UpWR1 and primary outside X. Contested-catch winner with red-zone production and high target share.
Toss-up — WR27 consensus, projects WR47 this week: PHI is the 10th-toughest matchup vs WRs, 24.0 implied team total.
- Odunze's outside-X role gives him a clearer path to receiving production than Loveland's blocker-first assignment.
- Philadelphia's early matchup split is less discouraging for wideouts, though the two-game sample is too thin to decide this call.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Colston Loveland | Rome Odunze |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 5.87.79.7 | 6.88.49.9 |
| Consensus rank | TE3 | WR27 |
| Opponent vs position | PHI · 2 of 322-game sample | PHI · 10 of 322-game sample |
| Receptions | 2 of 32 | 6 of 32 |
| Receiving Yards | 2 of 32 | 13 of 32 |
| Receiving TDs | 1 of 32 | 14 of 32 |
| Targets | 2 of 32 | 4 of 32 |
| Anytime TD | 1 of 32 | 13 of 32 |
| Target share | 9% | 13% |
| Reception share | 2% | 12% |
| Implied total · spread | 24.0-1.5 | 24.0-1.5 |
| Depth chart | TE1 | WR1 |
| Snap share | 87% | 66% |
| Start/Sit record | — | 0–1 |
Recent form
Colston Loveland — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs MIN | 0.30.81.3 |
| Week 1 | vs CAR | 0.00.00.0 |
Rome Odunze — last 2 weeks
| Week 2 | vs MIN | 4.35.87.3 |
| Week 1 | vs CAR | 5.26.27.2 |
Signal breakdown
- 9.7 vs 9.9 projected PPR pointsRome Odunze +
- Rank 3 vs 27Colston Loveland +
- Opponent DvP rank 2 vs 10 (32 = softest)even
- Implied 24.0 vs 24.0 team pointseven
- No injury designationseven
- 87% vs 66% snap shareColston Loveland +
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