Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cade Otton vs Zach ErtzWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Zach Ertz is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.8 PPG to Cade Otton's 6.2 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 1.6-PPG advantage is real (7.8 to 6.2), and Zach Ertz's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Cade Otton is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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TETampa Bay Buccaneers#29

Cade Otton

PPG

6.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

572

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

TEWashington Commanders#20PPG LEADER

Zach Ertz

PPG

7.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

504

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Cade Otton

Zach Ertz

Head to Head

6.2 PPG7.8 PPG

15 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Cade Otton: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #29 at the position). Zach Ertz: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #20 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Cade Otton is producing at 28% 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.

Cade Otton vs Zach Ertz: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Cade Otton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) finished the 2025 season averaging 6.2 fantasy points per game in 15 games. Zach Ertz (Washington Commanders) came in at 7.8 PPG over 13 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Zach Ertz carries a 1.6-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Cade Otton had 59 catches for 572 yards; Zach Ertz posted 50 for 504. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Cade Otton sits Week 10 while Zach Ertz is off Week 7. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Cade Otton (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 Cade Otton by a projected 27 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Cade Otton played 15 games in 2025 compared to Zach Ertz's 13. That durability gap means Cade Otton 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.
•Cade Otton saw 81 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Cade Otton is 8 years younger than Zach Ertz (27 vs 35), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cade Otton vs Zach Ertz: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cade Otton	Zach Ertz
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.2	7.8
Games Played	15	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	93	101
Receptions	59	50
Rec/Game	3.9	3.8
Receiving Yards	572	504
Rec Yds/Game	38.1	38.8
Receiving TDs	1	4
Targets	81	72
Target Share/Game	5.4	5.5
Age	27	35
Experience	3 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 7

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Zach Ertz holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 7.8 points per game. Cade Otton averaged 6.2 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Cade Otton or Zach Ertz in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Zach Ertz has the edge at 7.8 PPG compared to Cade Otton's 6.2 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 Cade Otton and Zach Ertz average in 2025?▾

Cade Otton averaged 6.2 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 1.6 points per game.

When are Cade Otton and Zach Ertz's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cade Otton (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.

Is Cade Otton or Zach Ertz a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Zach Ertz outscored Cade Otton by 1.6 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.