Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Austin Hooper vs Zach ErtzWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Zach Ertz is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.8 PPG to Austin Hooper's 4.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Zach Ertz is the better fantasy play this season.

Zach Ertz has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.8-PPG advantage is real (7.8 to 4.0), and Zach Ertz's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Austin Hooper is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

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TENew England Patriots#99

Austin Hooper

PPG

4.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

292

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 14

TEWashington Commanders#20PPG LEADER

Zach Ertz

PPG

7.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

504

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Austin Hooper

Zach Ertz

Head to Head

4.0 PPG7.8 PPG

15 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Austin Hooper: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Zach Ertz: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #20 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Austin Hooper is producing at 18% of elite pace and Zach Ertz at 35%. That ranking gap means Zach Ertz carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Austin Hooper vs Zach Ertz: The Full Breakdown

Austin Hooper and Zach Ertz are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 PPG across 15 games with the New England Patriots, while Zach Ertz posted 7.8 PPG in 13 appearances for the Washington Commanders.

A 3.8-PPG gap gives Zach Ertz the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Zach Ertz is the volume tight end in this matchup with 50 receptions for 504 yards, while Austin Hooper profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 32 catches). In weeks where Austin Hooper finds the end zone he out-scores Zach Ertz, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Austin Hooper is off Week 14 and Zach Ertz Week 7. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Zach Ertz at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Austin Hooper is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Austin Hooper (age 27) 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?

•Zach Ertz outscored Austin Hooper by a projected 65 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Austin Hooper played 15 games in 2025 compared to Zach Ertz's 13. That durability gap means Austin Hooper contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Zach Ertz scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Zach Ertz saw 72 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Austin Hooper vs Zach Ertz: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Austin Hooper	Zach Ertz
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.0	7.8
Games Played	15	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	60	101
Receptions	32	50
Rec/Game	2.1	3.8
Receiving Yards	292	504
Rec Yds/Game	19.5	38.8
Receiving TDs	1	4
Targets	42	72
Target Share/Game	2.8	5.5
Age	-	35
Experience	-	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 7

Summary

Zach Ertz outscored Austin Hooper by 3.8 PPG in 2025 (7.8 to 4.0). 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 Austin Hooper or Zach Ertz in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Zach Ertz has the edge at 7.8 PPG compared to Austin Hooper's 4.0 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 Austin Hooper and Zach Ertz average in 2025?▾

Austin Hooper averaged 4.0 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 3.8 points per game.

When are Austin Hooper and Zach Ertz's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Austin Hooper (NE) has a bye in Week 14, and Zach Ertz (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Austin Hooper or Zach Ertz a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Zach Ertz outscored Austin Hooper by 3.8 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.