Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Colston Loveland vs Michael MayerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Colston Loveland is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.5 PPG to Michael Mayer's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Colston Loveland is the better fantasy play this season.

Colston Loveland has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.8-PPG advantage is real (8.5 to 4.7), and Colston Loveland's 6 touchdowns show scoring upside. Michael Mayer is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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TEChicago Bears#16PPG LEADER

Colston Loveland

PPG

8.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

713

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

TELas Vegas Raiders#37

Michael Mayer

PPG

4.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

328

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

Colston Loveland

Michael Mayer

Head to Head

8.5 PPG4.7 PPG

16 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

Colston Loveland: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #16 at the position). Michael Mayer: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #37 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Colston Loveland is producing at 39% of elite pace and Michael Mayer at 21%. That ranking gap means Colston Loveland carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Colston Loveland vs Michael Mayer: The Full Breakdown

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 4.7 PPG in 12 appearances for the Las Vegas Raiders.

A 3.8-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 10 while Michael Mayer is off Week 13. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Colston Loveland at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Michael Mayer is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Colston Loveland (age 22) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Michael Mayer (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Colston Loveland outscored Michael Mayer by a projected 65 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Colston Loveland played 16 games in 2025 compared to Michael Mayer's 12. That durability gap means Colston Loveland contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Colston Loveland scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Colston Loveland saw 82 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Colston Loveland vs Michael Mayer: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Colston Loveland	Michael Mayer
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.5	4.7
Games Played	16	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	56
Receptions	58	35
Rec/Game	3.6	2.9
Receiving Yards	713	328
Rec Yds/Game	44.6	27.3
Receiving TDs	6	1
Targets	82	50
Target Share/Game	5.1	4.2
Age	22	24
Experience	-	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 13

Summary

Colston Loveland outscored Michael Mayer by 3.8 PPG in 2025 (8.5 to 4.7). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Colston Loveland or Michael Mayer in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Colston Loveland has the edge at 8.5 PPG compared to Michael Mayer's 4.7 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Colston Loveland and Michael Mayer average in 2025?▾

Colston Loveland averaged 8.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Michael Mayer averaged 4.7 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 3.8 points per game.

When are Colston Loveland and Michael Mayer's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Colston Loveland (CHI) has a bye in Week 10, and Michael Mayer (LV) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Colston Loveland or Michael Mayer a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Colston Loveland outscored Michael Mayer by 3.8 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.