Who Should I Start? Zach Ertz or Jake Ferguson

Monday, July 8, 4:28 PM

Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz was once one of the most productive players at the position. While his numbers have been on the decline over the last few years, Ben Standig of The Athletic reports that he looked good in offseason activities this summer. "Ertz, 33, showed more speed than expected in practices," Standig wrote. "Injuries are more concerning than the three-time Pro Bowler's remaining talent." The 2013 second-round pick could be heavily relied on by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels early in his NFL career, especially while rookie tight end Ben Sinnott makes the transition to the next level. Ertz is unlikely to possess TE1 upside at this stage of his career, but he might produce mid-range TE2 numbers, making him worth rostering in deep PPR setups. The former Stanford Cardinal enters 2024 in 12th place on the all-time receiving list by a tight end with 7,434 yards.

Friday, June 14, 1:20 PM

Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson broke out as the team's starting tight end in 2023 with 71 catches for 761 yards and five touchdowns en route to his first Pro Bowl nod. "It's his consistency and his passion his energy," said head coach Mike McCarthy. "And, really, it's his growth as a football player. We talked a little bit about his weight, and I think he's done an outstanding job in his transition phase of it. He's having a great offseason." Ferguson has so far shown that he has the entire package the Cowboys are looking for on offense. Realistically, the 25-year-old third-year tight end could be quarterback Dak Prescott's No. 2 target behind receiver CeeDee Lamb in 2024. Ferguson led all TEs in targets inside the 20-yard line last year and should be considered a low-end TE1 in fantasy with the upside for more.