Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Bucky Irving vs Zach ErtzWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Zach Ertz's 7.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Bucky Irving (12.3 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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RBTampa Bay Buccaneers#19PPG LEADER

Bucky Irving

PPG

12.3

Games

Rush Yds

588

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

277

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

Bucky Irving

Zach Ertz

Head to Head

12.3 PPG7.8 PPG

10 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Bucky Irving: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 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 3 (Flex/Starter) RB is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE in most league formats.

Bucky Irving vs Zach Ertz: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Bucky Irving (RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) against Zach Ertz (TE, Washington Commanders) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 PPG in 2025 over 10 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.

Bucky Irving 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 Bucky Irving at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Zach Ertz is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Bucky Irving (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. Zach Ertz (age 35) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Bucky Irving outscored Zach Ertz by a projected 77 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Zach Ertz played 13 games in 2025 compared to Bucky Irving's 10. That durability gap means Zach Ertz contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Bucky Irving scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Zach Ertz caught 50 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Bucky Irving is 12 years younger than Zach Ertz (23 vs 35), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Bucky Irving vs Zach Ertz: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Bucky Irving	Zach Ertz
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.3	7.8
Games Played	10	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	123	101
Rushing Yards	588	0
Rush Yds/Game	58.8	0.0
Rushing TDs	1	0
Receptions	30	50
Receiving Yards	277	504
Targets	35	72
Total TDs	4	4
Age	23	35
Experience	1 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 7

Summary

Bucky Irving outscored Zach Ertz by 4.5 PPG in 2025 (12.3 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 Bucky Irving or Zach Ertz in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bucky Irving has the edge at 12.3 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 Bucky Irving and Zach Ertz average in 2025?▾

Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Zach Ertz averaged 7.8 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 4.5 points per game.

When are Bucky Irving and Zach Ertz's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving (TB) 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.