Colston Loveland Dynasty Value: Is He TE1 in This Class?

QUICK LINKS:

Loveland brings the size, tape, and early breakout to forecast a productive NFL career.

But what does that mean for your rookie draft?

Let’s recap his impressive college journey and then forecast his dynasty value in a loaded Chicago offense...

Colston Loveland Dynasty Values

To see Colston Loveland's dynasty value for your exact league setup, check out our Dynasty Draft War Room.

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Colston Loveland Draft Profile

Colston Loveland Combine Results

*Loveland didn't perform at the NFL combine because of a shoulder injury.

Colston Loveland College Stats

Loveland fielded offers from LSU, Auburn, Utah, and other major programs but settled on Michigan.

That launched a three-year college career loaded with pro potential …

Freshman Year Progress

Loveland turned five starts into 16 catches, 235 yards, and 2 TDs.

He ranked sixth on the team in catches, fifth in yards, and fifth in TDs. 

But let’s add some context here ...

Loveland’s production came alongside fifth-year senior TE Luke Schoonmaker, Dallas’ 2023 Round 2 pick.

Michigan also featured three future draft picks at WR: Cornelius Johnson, Ronnie Bell, and Roman Wilson.

Sophomore Breakout Arrives 

Loveland’s raw stats (45-649-4) reached new heights in QB J.J. McCarthy's final season.

His catch and yardage totals ranked top 5 nationally among TEs. And Loveland won on efficiency, ranking third among 33 qualifiers in yards per route run (per PFF).

On top of that: At just 19, Loveland handled the TE1 role ahead of senior AJ Barner. Seattle selected Barner in Round 4 of the 2024 draft.

Now, could Loveland reach another level as a junior?

Health Impacts ‘24 Production

Dr. Neal Elattrache documented the extent of Loveland’s shoulder injury in a letter to all 32 teams. 

Among the notable points:

• Loveland played through an AC joint dislocation from September 2024.
• Loveland experienced lingering discomfort after the season and underwent surgery on Jan. 29.
• He’s expected to resume running by minicamp and gain clearance for team drills by training camp.

But there’s more to Loveland’s 2024 story …

‘Worst QB Play in the Big 10’

Davis Warren managed just 7 TD passes to 9 INTs over his nine starts. He added an ugly 5.7 yards per attempt.

Our lead college analyst, Shane Hallam, believes Michigan “may have had the worst QB play in the Big Ten.”

Despite that, Loveland remained hyper-efficient with 2.67 yards per route run. And he commanded 29% of team targets.

Better QB play likely would have upgraded his raw numbers (56-582-5).

Next, let’s see what clues we can gather from his college film.

Colston Loveland Highlights

Games watched: Texas (2024), Illinois (2024), Fresno State (2024), Indiana (2023), Rutgers (2023)

It’s fair to call Loveland a TE/WR hybrid.

He ran 43.7% of his career snaps in the slot; 16.4% out wide.

In this first clip, we see the best of his movement skills. Loveland executes a hard jab step, allowing him to create separation on the slant.

After the catch, he flashes the leg drive to create extra yardage.

The rep above came against Fresno State DB Cam Lockridge (6'0, 182), who earned first-team All-Mountain West honors in 2024. He ranked third in the FBS in interceptions.

Loveland also has the length to exploit smaller defenders. In this next clip, he attacks the seam and makes a nice grab from McCarthy.

Loveland’s usage primarily came in the short range. He exits college with a career average depth of target (aDOT) of 8.5 yards. That includes an aDOT of just 7.1 in 2024.

However, Loveland caught all seven deep targets in 2023 and three of six opportunities this past season. He at least looks poised to contribute some as a downfield asset in the pros.

At bottom, Loveland doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses as a pass catcher. He’s not a pure speed threat, but that’s not a barrier to impactful fantasy production.

Loveland looks most raw as a blocker, where he’ll be tested at the NFL level.

His ability to hold up there could impact his early-career snaps.

Colston Loveland Team Fit: Chicago Bears

HC Ben Johnson compared Loveland to Sam LaPorta, who tallied 86-889-10 as a rookie under Johnson.

Those are unrealistic numbers for the Bear, as Cole Kmet returns to share TE duties. Just note that the Bears can get out of the veteran's contract in 2026.

"I do see a lot of comparisons to LaPorta, but that's not just on the field, that was off the field as well, because with LaPorta the stage was never too big or too bright," Johnson said via ESPN. "I felt that same thing with Colston the first time I met him."

Dynasty Value Conclusion: Don't Fret Over a Crowded Situation

Loveland currently ranks 8th overall -- ahead of Tyler Warren -- in our dynasty PPR rookie rankings. So he's a late Round 1 pick in most 1-QB rookie drafts.

A 19-year-old breakout, Loveland boasts the size, production, and WR-like skill set to deliver early returns.

Just how early remains to be seen, but he'll need to earn a role alongside such a talented group of pass catchers: DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and fellow rookie Luther Burden.

Ultimately, we're ignoring the current competition and backing Loveland for his (1) talent and (2) offensive environment. It's hard to find a higher-upside pairing than QB Caleb Williams and HC Ben Johnson.

Consider Loveland a top-five dynasty TE, especially with the veteran landscape turning up aging stars like Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews.

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