South Shore Press Video Vault: Barton's Best Bet is Bears Tight End Loveland About to Break Out

South Shore Press Sports Director Tom Barton is sticking with NFL futures in this week's edition of Barton's Best Bet, this time backing Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland to eclipse his receiving yards total. Barton joined South Shore Press Managing Editor Stefan Mychajliw to explain why he believes the second-year standout is poised for a breakout season.

Stefan Mychajliw: It's time for my favorite Video Vault segment, Barton's Best Bet. What do you have for us this week?

Tom Barton: We're staying with NFL futures because there are still some great values out there. I like Colston Loveland to go over 775 receiving yards this season. Everyone's talking about his touchdown total, but I think the receiving yards are the better play.

Mychajliw: Why do you think a tight end, especially one in Chicago, puts up those kinds of numbers?

Barton: It starts with Ben Johnson's offense. His system is one of the most tight end-friendly in football, using multiple tight-end sets as much as almost anyone in the league. Loveland finished with 713 receiving yards as a rookie, but people forget he got off to a slow start. In three of his first four games, he had 12 yards or fewer. Mychajliw: But he really came on late.

Barton: Exactly. Once he became a bigger part of the offense, the production exploded. He closed the regular season with back-to-back 90-yard games and added 137 yards and another 56 in the playoffs. To cash this bet, he only needs to average about 46 yards per game. That's very attainable.

Mychajliw: I do have to point out one flaw in your math. Against my beloved Buffalo Bills, he's getting zero receiving yards.

Barton: Even if that happened, he'd still have plenty of games to make it up. But I don't think that's happening.

Mychajliw: You and I are planning to be at that Bills game, and I'm telling you right now, he's putting up a goose egg in Buffalo.

Barton: Then I'll make a second best bet. He won't finish with zero against the Bills. We'll find out together.