Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

A.J. Brown vs Zach ErtzWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

A.J. Brown is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.1 PPG to Zach Ertz's 7.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

A.J. Brown is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, A.J. Brown (12.1 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.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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WRPhiladelphia Eagles#12PPG LEADER

A.J. Brown

PPG

12.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

1,003

Rec TDs

Targets

121

Bye

Week 10

TEWashington Commanders#20

Zach Ertz

PPG

7.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

504

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

A.J. Brown

Zach Ertz

Head to Head

12.1 PPG7.8 PPG

15 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

A.J. Brown: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR (ranked #12 at the position). Zach Ertz: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #20 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 2 (Strong Starter) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE in most league formats.

A.J. Brown vs Zach Ertz: The Full Breakdown

Comparing A.J. Brown (WR, Philadelphia Eagles) against Zach Ertz (TE, Washington Commanders) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. A.J. Brown averaged 12.1 PPG in 2025 over 15 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.

A.J. Brown has his bye in Week 10, Zach Ertz in Week 7. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire A.J. Brown at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Zach Ertz is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: A.J. Brown (age 28) 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?

•A.J. Brown outscored Zach Ertz by a projected 73 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•A.J. Brown played 15 games in 2025 compared to Zach Ertz's 13. That durability gap means A.J. Brown contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•A.J. Brown scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•A.J. Brown saw 121 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•A.J. Brown is 7 years younger than Zach Ertz (28 vs 35), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

A.J. Brown vs Zach Ertz: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	A.J. Brown	Zach Ertz
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.1	7.8
Games Played	15	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	182	101
Receptions	78	50
Rec/Game	5.2	3.8
Receiving Yards	1,003	504
Rec Yds/Game	66.9	38.8
Receiving TDs	7	4
Targets	121	72
Target Share/Game	8.1	5.5
Age	28	35
Experience	6 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 7

Summary

A.J. Brown outscored Zach Ertz by 4.3 PPG in 2025 (12.1 to 7.8). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start A.J. Brown or Zach Ertz in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, A.J. Brown has the edge at 12.1 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.

How many fantasy points did A.J. Brown and Zach Ertz average in 2025?▾

A.J. Brown averaged 12.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Zach Ertz averaged 7.8 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 4.3 points per game.

When are A.J. Brown and Zach Ertz's bye weeks in 2026?▾

A.J. Brown (PHI) has a bye in Week 10, and Zach Ertz (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.