Who Should I Start? Zach Ertz or Brock Bowers


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Zach Ertz News

Zach Ertz Still Trying to Play in 2026

Friday, June 26, 9:59 AM

Veteran free-agent tight end Zach Ertz (knee), who remains unsigned with training camp quickly approaching next month, said on the New Heights podcast that he continues to work towards being 100% healthy for the 2026 season, according to Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. "We're in a good spot. We're like five, almost six months now from surgery," Ertz said. "Just training every day, doing everything I can to get back to where I was. It's a long process. There's some long days, there's some long weeks, some long months . . . it's tough, but we're just trying to stack these days right now." In his 13th year in the NFL last season with the Washington Commanders, the 35-year-old caught 50 of his 72 targets for 504 yards and four touchdowns in 13 starts before suffering a season-ending torn ACL in Week 14. Because of the timing of the injury and his age, Ertz is not guaranteed to be ready for the start of the 2026 season, which is certainly why he's still a free agent. A team could take a chance on the three-time Pro Bowler before the start of the upcoming season if he proves he's fully healthy, but for right now, Ertz is off the fantasy radar.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
14.0 0.4 0.0 5.5 60.7 0.4

Brock Bowers News

Brock Bowers Remains an Elite Tight End Option Despite Injury-Marred 2025 Campaign

Friday, July 24, 7:46 AM

After recording 112 receptions and being named a first-team All-Pro as a rookie in 2024, Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers battled through an injury-marred sophomore campaign in 2025. The 23-year-old was clearly hampered while playing through a knee injury that he suffered in Week 1 and eventually ended the season on Injured Reserve. However, Bowers is reportedly fully healthy heading into 2026. The Raiders should also have a significantly improved offensive environment in the upcoming year, hiring Klint Kubiak as their new head coach and play-caller and revamping their quarterback room with veteran Kirk Cousins and 2026 number one overall pick Fernando Mendoza. Bowers profiles as the clear number one option in the Las Vegas passing game and could have a chance to exceed the 153 targets he earned as a rookie. While Bowers' stock may be slightly down following his disappointing 2025 production, he remains an elite fantasy tight end ahead of 2026.


Zach Ertz vs. Brock Bowers

Still trying to decide between Ertz and Bowers? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Zach Ertz is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Brock Bowers is projected to score 14.0 points.