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Head to Head

Updated from live stats

Cooper Kupp vs Zach ErtzWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Cooper Kupp is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.8 PPG to Zach Ertz's 7.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Cooper Kupp is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Cooper Kupp (10.8 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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WRLos Angeles Rams#99PPG LEADER
Cooper Kupp
PPG
10.8
Games
12
Rec
62
Rec Yds
748
Rec TDs
5
Targets
92
Bye
Week 6
TEWashington Commanders#20
Zach Ertz
PPG
7.8
Games
13
Rec
50
Rec Yds
504
Rec TDs
4
Targets
72
Bye
Week 7

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Cooper Kupp
Zach Ertz

Head to Head

10.8 PPG7.8 PPG
12 GP13 GP
Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Cooper Kupp: Tier 5 (Deep League) WR (ranked #99 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 5 (Deep League) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE in most league formats.

Cooper Kupp vs Zach Ertz: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Cooper Kupp (WR, Los Angeles Rams) against Zach Ertz (TE, Washington Commanders) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Cooper Kupp averaged 10.8 PPG in 2025 over 12 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.

Cooper Kupp has his bye in Week 6, Zach Ertz in Week 7. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Cooper Kupp is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Zach Ertz is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Cooper Kupp (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?

  • Cooper Kupp outscored Zach Ertz by a projected 51 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Zach Ertz played 13 games in 2025 compared to Cooper Kupp's 12. That durability gap means Zach Ertz contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Cooper Kupp scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
  • Cooper Kupp saw 92 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cooper Kupp vs Zach Ertz: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatCooper KuppZach Ertz
PPG (Half-PPR)10.87.8
Games Played1213
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)130101
Receptions6250
Rec/Game5.23.8
Receiving Yards748504
Rec Yds/Game62.338.8
Receiving TDs54
Targets9272
Target Share/Game7.75.5
Age-35
Experience-12 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 6Week 7

Summary

10.8 PPG for Cooper Kupp versus 7.8 for Zach Ertz in 2025. The baseline favors Cooper Kupp, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Cooper Kupp or Zach Ertz in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Cooper Kupp has the edge at 10.8 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 Cooper Kupp and Zach Ertz average in 2025?

Cooper Kupp averaged 10.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Zach Ertz averaged 7.8 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 3.0 points per game.

When are Cooper Kupp and Zach Ertz's bye weeks in 2026?

Cooper Kupp (LAR) has a bye in Week 6, and Zach Ertz (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

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