Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Cade Stover 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 Stover's 3.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Zach Ertz is the better fantasy play this season.

Zach Ertz is the better play on a neutral week. 7.8 PPG with 504 yards gives a reliable baseline. Cade Stover at 3.5 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Zach Ertz higher, but do not fade Cade Stover entirely.

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

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TEHouston Texans#99

Cade Stover

PPG

3.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

215

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

Cade Stover

Zach Ertz

Head to Head

3.5 PPG7.8 PPG

15 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 14Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Cade Stover: 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, Cade Stover is producing at 16% 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 Stover vs Zach Ertz: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Cade Stover and Zach Ertz for your lineup, you are not alone. Cade Stover finished the 2025 season at 3.5 PPG for the Houston Texans (15 games), and Zach Ertz averaged 7.8 for the Washington Commanders (13 games).

That 4.3-point weekly advantage for Zach Ertz is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Zach Ertz is the volume tight end in this matchup with 50 receptions for 504 yards, while Cade Stover profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 22 catches). In weeks where Cade Stover finds the end zone he out-scores Zach Ertz, but the floor gap is real.

Cade Stover has his bye in Week 14, and Zach Ertz rests in Week 7. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Zach Ertz is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Cade Stover is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Cade Stover (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 Stover by a projected 73 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Cade Stover played 15 games in 2025 compared to Zach Ertz's 13. That durability gap means Cade Stover 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

Cade Stover vs Zach Ertz: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Cade Stover	Zach Ertz
PPG (Half-PPR)	3.5	7.8
Games Played	15	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	53	101
Receptions	22	50
Rec/Game	1.5	3.8
Receiving Yards	215	504
Rec Yds/Game	14.3	38.8
Receiving TDs	1	4
Targets	32	72
Target Share/Game	2.1	5.5
Age	-	35
Experience	-	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 14	Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Zach Ertz at 7.8 PPG, 4.3 points per game above Cade Stover's 3.5. 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 Cade Stover or Zach Ertz in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Zach Ertz has the edge at 7.8 PPG compared to Cade Stover's 3.5 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 Stover and Zach Ertz average in 2025?▾

Cade Stover averaged 3.5 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 Cade Stover and Zach Ertz's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Cade Stover (HOU) 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 Cade Stover or Zach Ertz a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Zach Ertz outscored Cade Stover by 4.3 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.