Who Should I Start? Zach Ertz or Christian McCaffrey

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, 3:59 PM

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is expected to play Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, according to Ian Rapoport. After sitting out Friday's practice with a calf injury, McCaffrey expressed confidence in his media availability on Friday. Rapoport reported that barring any setbacks, McCaffrey is likely to suit up. The Five-Time Pro Bowl running back missed significant time last season due to a calf strain, making this update a welcome relief for fantasy managers. He faces a Seahawks defense that was middle-of-the-pack against running backs in 2024, but McCaffrey has historically dominated Seattle, averaging 158 yards per game in six career matchups. While the risk of reinjury is always present with McCaffrey, he remains a must-start fantasy option this week given his workload and track record against the Seahawks.