Who Should I Start? Zach Ertz or Juwan Johnson

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, 11:12 AM

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson opens the season as the top option at the position ahead of rookie Moliki Matavao. Over six seasons with the team, he has averaged 11.1 yards per reception, 24.2 yards per game, and a 65.8% catch rate. With Spencer Rattler under center, the Saints may lean on the run and feed star receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, leaving limited targets for Johnson. He should be left on waivers for the foreseeable future.