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Updated September 9, 2026 from live stats

Ja'Marr Chase or Zach ErtzWho should you draft or start in 2026 fantasy football?

DraftCall Analytics

Start Ja'Marr Chase over Zach Ertz in 2026.

Ja'Marr Chase averaged 15.7 PPG in 2025 to Zach Ertz's 7.8, a 7.9 point per game edge. Chase's 125-catch receiving role gives him a higher weekly floor in PPR and half-PPR. Ja'Marr Chase is Tier 1 among wide receivers, Zach Ertz is Tier 2 among tight ends.

The Bottom Line

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Ja'Marr Chase (15.7 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Zach Ertz (7.8 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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WRCincinnati Bengals#3PPG LEADER

Ja'Marr Chase

PPG

15.7

Games

Rec

125

Rec Yds

1,412

Rec TDs

Targets

185

Bye

Week 6

TEWashington Commanders#20

Zach Ertz

PPG

7.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

504

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Ja'Marr Chase

Zach Ertz

Head to Head

15.7 PPG7.8 PPG

16 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Ja'Marr Chase: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #3 at the position). Zach Ertz: Tier 2 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #20 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 1 (Elite) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 2 (Flex/Starter) TE in most league formats.

Ja'Marr Chase vs Zach Ertz: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Ja'Marr Chase (WR, Cincinnati Bengals) against Zach Ertz (TE, Washington Commanders) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Ja'Marr Chase averaged 15.7 PPG in 2025 over 16 games, while Zach Ertz posted 7.8 PPG across 13 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Ja'Marr Chase has his bye in Week 6, Zach Ertz in Week 7. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Ja'Marr Chase is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Zach Ertz is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Ja'Marr Chase (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Zach Ertz (age 35) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Ja'Marr Chase outscored Zach Ertz by a projected 134 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Ja'Marr Chase played 16 games in 2025 compared to Zach Ertz's 13. That durability gap means Ja'Marr Chase contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Ja'Marr Chase scored 8 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Ja'Marr Chase saw 185 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Ja'Marr Chase is 9 years younger than Zach Ertz (26 vs 35), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Ja'Marr Chase vs Zach Ertz: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Ja'Marr Chase	Zach Ertz
PPG (Half-PPR)	15.7	7.8
Games Played	16	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	251	101
Receptions	125	50
Rec/Game	7.8	3.8
Receiving Yards	1,412	504
Rec Yds/Game	88.3	38.8
Receiving TDs	8	4
Targets	185	72
Target Share/Game	11.6	5.5
Age	26	35
Experience	4 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Ja'Marr Chase at 15.7 PPG, 7.9 points per game above Zach Ertz's 7.8. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Ja'Marr Chase or Zach Ertz in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Ja'Marr Chase has the edge at 15.7 PPG compared to Zach Ertz's 7.8 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

Should I draft Ja'Marr Chase or Zach Ertz in 2026 fantasy football?▾

They come off the board at different positions, so weigh Ja'Marr Chase's 15.7 fantasy points per game against Zach Ertz's 7.8 and what your roster still needs at TE. Positional rank, fantasy tier, and bye week are broken down below.

How many fantasy points did Ja'Marr Chase and Zach Ertz average in 2025?▾

Ja'Marr Chase averaged 15.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Zach Ertz averaged 7.8 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 7.9 points per game.

When are Ja'Marr Chase and Zach Ertz's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Zach Ertz (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.