Who Should I Start? Zach Ertz or Chig Okonkwo

Friday, September 5, 7:43 PM

Washington Commanders veteran tight end Zach Ertz returns for a second season with the team, looking to remain a reliable target for young quarterback Jayden Daniels in Week 1 against the Giants. Ertz turned back the clock a bit in his age-34 season, racking up 66 catches for 654 yards and scoring seven touchdowns. His efficiency in particular rebounded significantly, with his 7.2 yards per target being the highest in a season since 2018. He served as a safety blanket for his young quarterback, consistently getting open in the red zone and on third downs. Ertz has spoken incredibly highly of Daniels since they've been together, comparing him to his former Stanford teammate, Andrew Luck. The ceiling isn't very high for Ertz in fantasy this season, but he is a safe and projectable option to pair with an upside bet at tight end late in drafts. He should be viewed as a low-end TE1 for the season opener on Sunday.

Saturday, September 6, 9:23 AM

Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo could carve out a fantasy-relevant role during Week 1 against the Denver Broncos. While the Broncos have a strong defense and could strategize to rattle rookie quarterback Cameron Ward, Okonkwo is in a favorable position as a tight end, because he should serve as a short- to medium-yardage security blanket for Ward. Plus, while Denver was spectacular against running backs and wide receivers last year, they were merely average against tight ends and allowed the ninth-most receptions to the position. Okonkwo isn't a household name at the tight end position, but he could be a top-18 option this week and therefore warrants some consideration for your lineups in deeper leagues.