Colston Loveland vs Michael Mayer: Who Should You Start?
Colston Loveland and Michael Mayer are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Colston Loveland averaged 8.5 PPG across 16 games with the Chicago Bears, while Michael Mayer posted 4.3 PPG in 13 appearances for the Las Vegas Raiders.
A 4.2-PPG gap gives Colston Loveland the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Colston Loveland is the volume tight end in this matchup with 58 receptions for 713 yards, while Michael Mayer profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 35 catches). In weeks where Michael Mayer finds the end zone he out-scores Colston Loveland, but the floor gap is real.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Colston Loveland sits Week 7 while Michael Mayer is off Week 10. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
