Who Should I Start? Mike Gesicki or Colston Loveland

Tuesday, December 30, 3:00 PM

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki has seen his snap share drop steadily over the past three games. Now, with nothing but divisional pride on the line in a Week 18 matchup with the Browns, there is no guarantee of playing time for the 30-year-old veteran in the first year of the three-year deal he signed this offseason. For fantasy managers still playing into Week 18, there are more alluring names to be found on the waiver wire, with a pleasant number of NFL teams still playing for something in the final week of the regular season. Gesicki did finish as the TE2 as recently as Week 14, so he does represent a ceiling uncommon to the waiver wire, but with an unclear picture of how the Bengals are approaching the end of the season, he is best viewed as a desperation-only play in deeper leagues.

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.