Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Colston Loveland vs Rico DowdleWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Rico Dowdle is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.6 PPG to Colston Loveland's 8.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Rico Dowdle is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Rico Dowdle (11.6 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Colston Loveland (8.5 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

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

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TEChicago Bears#16

Colston Loveland

PPG

8.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

713

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

RBCarolina Panthers#21PPG LEADER

Rico Dowdle

PPG

11.6

Games

Rush Yds

1,076

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

297

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

Colston Loveland

Rico Dowdle

Head to Head

8.5 PPG11.6 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

Colston Loveland: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #16 at the position). Rico Dowdle: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #21 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB in most league formats.

Colston Loveland vs Rico Dowdle: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Colston Loveland (TE, Chicago Bears) against Rico Dowdle (RB, Carolina Panthers) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Colston Loveland averaged 8.5 PPG in 2025 over 16 games, while Rico Dowdle posted 11.6 PPG across 17 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Colston Loveland has his bye in Week 10, Rico Dowdle in Week 5. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Rico Dowdle is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Colston Loveland is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Colston Loveland (age 22) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Rico Dowdle (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Rico Dowdle outscored Colston Loveland by a projected 53 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Rico Dowdle played 17 games in 2025 compared to Colston Loveland's 16. That durability gap means Rico Dowdle contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Rico Dowdle scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Colston Loveland saw 82 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Colston Loveland is 5 years younger than Rico Dowdle (22 vs 27), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Colston Loveland vs Rico Dowdle: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Colston Loveland	Rico Dowdle
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.5	11.6
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	136	197
Rushing Yards	-2	1,076
Rush Yds/Game	-0.1	63.3
Rushing TDs	0	6
Receptions	58	39
Receiving Yards	713	297
Targets	82	50
Total TDs	6	7
Age	22	27
Experience	-	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 5

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Rico Dowdle at 11.6 PPG, 3.1 points per game above Colston Loveland's 8.5. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Colston Loveland or Rico Dowdle in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Rico Dowdle has the edge at 11.6 PPG compared to Colston Loveland's 8.5 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 Rico Dowdle average in 2025?▾

Colston Loveland averaged 8.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Rico Dowdle averaged 11.6 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.1 points per game.

When are Colston Loveland and Rico Dowdle's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Colston Loveland (CHI) has a bye in Week 10, and Rico Dowdle (CAR) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.