Who Should I Start? Darren Waller or Colston Loveland

Friday, October 24, 1:09 PM

Miami Dolphins tight end Darren Waller's pectoral injury is not season-ending, according to head coach Mike McDaniel. Waller suffered a pectoral injury in the Week 7 loss to the Cleveland Browns and was placed on Injured Reserve on Wednesday, but he should be able to make it back this season. However, the 33-year-old veteran will need to miss at least four games and will not be eligible to return for Miami until Week 13. In the meantime, the team will have to make due with a combination of Julian Hill (ankle), Tanner Conner, and Greg Dulcich at the position in an offense that already lost star receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) for the year. Fantasy managers should be avoiding Miami's TE situation until Waller can return. Waller, who came out of retirement after not playing at all in 2024, got a late start in 2025 due to another injury, but he scored four touchdowns in his first three games before getting injured in Week 7.

Wednesday, November 5, 10:29 AM

Chicago Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland broke out in a big way in Week 9, catching six of seven targets for 118 yards and two touchdowns in the Bears' 47-42 win over the Bengals. The highlight came on a 58-yard game-winning touchdown, capping off a monster performance that pushed Chicago to a 5-3 record. With Cole Kmet exiting early due to a concussion, Loveland stepped in as the primary tight end, logging 79% of the offensive snaps. Now, with Kmet still in concussion protocol entering Week 10, Loveland could once again handle a full workload against the New York Giants, who have allowed the ninth-most passing yards in the NFL this season. If Kmet remains sidelined, Loveland is a must-start fantasy option across all formats, offering TE1 upside in Week 10.