Who Should I Start? Zach Ertz or Noah Fant

Tuesday, February 24, 5:40 AM

Three-time Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz (knee) plans to return in 2026 for a 14th NFL season and is expected to be cleared right around Week 1, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Ertz, who will be a free agent next month, is two months into rehab from a torn ACL. The 35-year-old veteran ranks fifth in catches and eighth in yards among tight ends in NFL history, including 50 catches for 504 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games last before before suffering his season-ending knee injury in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 7. Given his age and uncertainty about whether he'll actually be 100% ready to play in the season opener this fall, Ertz's fantasy stock will drop considerably going into the 2026 season. In his first year in Washington in 2024, Ertz had a 66-654-7 line in 17 games played.

Sunday, December 28, 12:03 PM

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Noah Fant (ankle) is officially active on Sunday to face the visiting Arizona Cardinals in Week 17. Fant will return to action this weekend in a meaningless game after missing last week's blowout win over the Miami Dolphins due to an ankle injury. Even in a plus matchup against the Cardinals, fantasy managers should have much better TE2 streaming options to choose from in Week 17, even in deeper leagues. The 28-year-old Fant just won't have enough opportunities while continuing to work behind Mike Gesicki at the position in Cincy. Fant has a total of 33 catches for 283 yards and three touchdowns on 39 targets in 13 games (six starts) in his first year with the Bengals. He hasn't had more than one catch in a game since Nov. 16, and he has not gone over 44 receiving yards in a single contest in 2025.