Cole Kmet Still Lines Up, But the Target Share Tells a Different Story

Managers building Cole Kmet 2026 fantasy football rosters already know the headline from last season. The veteran tight end led the Bears in total snaps at his position through much of 2025, yet Colston Loveland overtook him in the passing game by December. Chicago still runs one of the league’s highest rates of multiple-tight-end sets, so Kmet keeps a steady role in base personnel. From a fantasy perspective, though, he now sits well behind Loveland and the young wide receiver duo of Rome Odunze and Luther Burden III.

The numbers from 2025 laid it out plainly. Loveland, the first-round rookie out of Idaho, finished with 58 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns. Kmet managed 30 catches for 347 yards and two scores across 16 games.

2025 Receiving Stats: Kmet vs. Loveland

Loveland led the Bears in both receptions and receiving yards as a rookie. He also earned team Rookie of the Year honors after a strong second half that included six touchdowns over the final 12 games (regular season plus playoffs).

Why the Shift Happened and What It Means for 2026

The Bears’ offensive system loves 12 personnel. That package keeps two tight ends on the field together for run support and play-action. Kmet excels in those spots. His blocking in the run game and pass protection gives the offense balance, especially on early downs and in short-yardage situations. Loveland, with his athletic profile and big-play ability, became the mismatch weapon who flexed out or ran routes that stressed linebackers and safeties.

You could feel the energy change late last season. Loveland started making the splash plays while Kmet stayed steady in the role he has held since 2020. The arrival of young weapons at wide receiver only spread the targets further. Odunze, now in his third year, and Burden, the explosive 2025 rookie who posted 689 scrimmage yards, give quarterback Caleb Williams legitimate options outside the hashes.

Kmet’s value never disappeared. It simply moved. He remains the reliable inline presence who helps the run game stay on schedule and buys Williams extra time when protection breaks down. That work rarely shows up on the stat sheet, but it shows up on film and in the win column.

Fantasy Football Outlook for 2026

In redraft leagues, Kmet profiles as a late-round or waiver-wire option. His 2025 volume drop makes him a low-upside TE2 or TE3 at best. The Bears’ passing game now runs through Loveland in the intermediate and deep areas, and the wide receiver room is crowded with young talent. Kmet can still deliver in weeks when the script favors short passes or when Chicago leans extra heavy on 12 personnel, but those weeks will be inconsistent.

Dynasty managers see a different picture. Kmet is only 27. He has missed very few games across six NFL seasons and posted TE7 finishes in both 2022 and 2023 on the back of 13 total touchdowns and near-perfect availability. If Loveland misses time with an injury, Kmet immediately steps back into a high-volume role. That insurance factor keeps his dynasty price reasonable and his roster spot secure in deeper formats.

Contract and Roster Context

Kmet remains under contract through the 2027 season after the four-year, $50 million extension he signed in 2023. He will hit unrestricted free agency in 2028. The Bears recently restructured his deal to create cap flexibility, but the dead money and his importance in base packages make a trade unlikely this summer. He is not walking into free agency anytime soon, so any change of scenery would require a deal the front office has shown little interest in making.

The tight end room itself ranks among the NFL’s strongest groups entering 2026. Loveland and Kmet together give Chicago a rare combination of athletic receiving threat and veteran inline reliability. That depth keeps everyone on the field more often and helps the offense stay unpredictable.