Who Should I Start? Zach Ertz or Austin Ekeler

Wednesday, March 6, 2:01 PM

Three-time Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz is signing with the Washington Commanders on a one-year deal worth up to $5 million on Wednesday, according to a source. It will be a reunion for Ertz and new Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. When Ertz was with the Arizona Cardinals in Kingsbury's offense, he saw a ton of targets, so this has the 33-year-old's fantasy stock on the rise again after he played in only seven games in the desert in 2023 due to injuries, catching 27 of his 43 targets for 187 yards and one touchdown. Logan Thomas is now out of the picture in Washington, paving the way for Ertz to serve as the team's top pass-catching tight end if he's healthy, but he could also be taking passes from whichever quarterback the Commanders with the second overall pick in the upcoming draft.

Monday, March 11, 7:05 PM

Veteran free-agent running back Austin Ekeler is signing with the Washington Commanders on Monday on a two-year deal worth up to $11.43 million, according to sources. Ekeler is headed to the East coast after seven seasons and 69 total touchdowns with the Los Angeles Chargers. The 28-year-old was extremely productive in his time with the Bolts, but he's coming off one of his worst statistical seasons in 2023 and is now heading to a Commanders backfield where he'll be expected to split the workload with Brian Robinson. On a side note, former Commanders RB Antonio Gibson agreed to join the New England Patriots. Gone are the days of Ekeler being a no-doubt RB1 for fantasy managers, although he still has the talent to be a highly productive RB3/flex option, especially in PPR leagues. In addition, the Commanders' signing of Ekeler is going to be bad news for B-Rob's fantasy ceiling.