Who Should I Start? Zach Ertz or Pat Freiermuth

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.

Friday, September 5, 7:47 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth will kick off the fifth season of his career on the road against the New York Jets. Freiermuth quietly finished as a top-10 fantasy option in 2024 and should benefit from improved QB play this season, but he will now share opportunities with Pro-Bowler Jonnu Smith in what is expected to be a run-heavy offense. The Jets were stingy against opposing tight ends last year, and Sunday's contest has the lowest-projected point total of the week. As a result, Freiermuth should be avoided in all but the deepest of fantasy formats in Week 1.