Who Should I Start? Zach Ertz or Colston Loveland

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, 2:45 PM

Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland makes his NFL debut on Monday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings. Drafted 10th overall in 2025, Loveland enters the league with high expectations as a long-term playmaker in Ben Johnson's offense. However, fantasy managers should temper expectations for Week 1. Loveland will begin his rookie season in a timeshare with veteran Cole Kmet, who has been a steady producer throughout his five-year career. With target competition across the offense and the necessity for a Caleb Williams Year 2 leap, Loveland's fantasy value may take time to materialize. The matchup doesn't help either, as Minnesota's defense allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends last season. Until his role becomes clearer, Loveland is best treated as a low-end TE2 in Week 1.