Who Should I Start? Jake Ferguson or Colston Loveland

Thursday, December 25, 3:03 PM

ESPN's Todd Archer reports that Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson (calf) has been ruled out for the remainder of the game after sustaining a calf injury. He caught 1-of-2 targets for six yards and a touchdown before exiting the contest. Ferguson saw his last opportunity of the outing early in the second quarter, but did not rejoin his team coming out of halftime. With the 26-year-old deemed out, fellow tight end Luke Schoonmaker will operate as the Cowboys' No. 1 option at the position. Brevyn Spann-Ford will mix in behind him. Fantasy managers can also expect a modest uptick in work for wide receivers George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb while Ferguson is sidelined.

Monday, December 29, 10:42 AM

Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland had one of his best games of the season in Week 17 against the San Francisco 49ers, recording six catches for 94 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets. With Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze (foot) sidelined by a foot injury, Loveland's role in the Chicago offense has grown in recent weeks. He's now recorded at least five targets in six straight games and logged three touchdown grabs in that stretch. Additionally, Chicago wideout Luther Burden III (quad) suffered a quad injury in Week 17 that could put his status for Week 18 in question, further opening an opportunity for Loveland to climb the team's pass-catching pecking order. The Bears are locked into either the number two or number three seed in the NFC regardless of their result in Week 18 against the Detroit Lions, so they may be inclined to rest Odunze and Burden III to make sure both players are ready to go for the playoffs. In fantasy leagues with 12 or more teams, Loveland profiles as a player to target on the waiver wire.