Who Should I Start? Zach Ertz or Chig Okonkwo


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
7.7 0.0 0.0 3.2 34.0 0.2

Chig Okonkwo News

Chig Okonkwo is Undervalued by Current Redraft ADP

Friday, July 24, 7:36 AM

After spending the first four years of his career with the Tennessee Titans, tight end Chig Okonkwo is entering his first season with the Washington Commanders in 2026. Okonkwo has established himself as a durable and reliable contributor, recording three consecutive seasons with at least 17 games played, 70 targets, 50 catches, and 500 receiving yards. However, he's scored just eight touchdowns across 68 career NFL games while playing in Tennessee. In Washington, Okonkwo will now have a chance to play with quarterback Jayden Daniels, who has thrown nine touchdown passes to tight ends across 24 career NFL games. The Commanders are also desperately searching for pass-catching talent to emerge behind star wide receiver Terry McLaurin, which could leave Okonkwo as the team's number two option in the passing game. Okonkwo has significant breakout upside entering 2026 and profiles as an excellent value selection at his current redraft ADP of TE20.


Zach Ertz vs. Chig Okonkwo

Still trying to decide between Ertz and Okonkwo? 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 Chig Okonkwo is projected to score 7.7 points.