Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

David Njoku vs Zach ErtzWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Zach Ertz is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.8 PPG to David Njoku's 6.3 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 1.5-PPG advantage is real (7.8 to 6.3), and Zach Ertz's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. David Njoku 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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TECleveland Browns#26

David Njoku

PPG

6.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

293

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

TEWashington Commanders#20PPG LEADER

Zach Ertz

PPG

7.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

504

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

David Njoku

Zach Ertz

Head to Head

6.3 PPG7.8 PPG

11 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

David Njoku: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #26 at the position). Zach Ertz: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #20 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, David Njoku is producing at 29% 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.

David Njoku vs Zach Ertz: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. David Njoku (Cleveland Browns) finished the 2025 season averaging 6.3 fantasy points per game in 11 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 1.5-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.

Zach Ertz is the volume tight end in this matchup with 50 receptions for 504 yards, while David Njoku profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (4 scores on 33 catches). In weeks where David Njoku finds the end zone he out-scores Zach Ertz, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: David Njoku sits Week 11 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: David Njoku (age 29) 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 David Njoku by a projected 26 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Zach Ertz played 13 games in 2025 compared to David Njoku's 11. That durability gap means Zach Ertz contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•David Njoku scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 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.
•David Njoku is 6 years younger than Zach Ertz (29 vs 35), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

David Njoku vs Zach Ertz: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	David Njoku	Zach Ertz
PPG (Half-PPR)	6.3	7.8
Games Played	11	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	69	101
Receptions	33	50
Rec/Game	3.0	3.8
Receiving Yards	293	504
Rec Yds/Game	26.6	38.8
Receiving TDs	4	4
Targets	48	72
Target Share/Game	4.4	5.5
Age	29	35
Experience	8 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 7

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Zach Ertz holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 7.8 points per game. David Njoku averaged 6.3 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 David Njoku or Zach Ertz in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Zach Ertz has the edge at 7.8 PPG compared to David Njoku's 6.3 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 David Njoku and Zach Ertz average in 2025?▾

David Njoku averaged 6.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 11 games in 2025. Zach Ertz averaged 7.8 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 1.5 points per game.

When are David Njoku and Zach Ertz's bye weeks in 2026?▾

David Njoku (CLE) has a bye in Week 11, and Zach Ertz (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is David Njoku or Zach Ertz a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Zach Ertz outscored David Njoku by 1.5 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.