Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Jaylen Waddle vs Zach ErtzWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jaylen Waddle is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.1 PPG to Zach Ertz's 7.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jaylen Waddle is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Jaylen Waddle (10.1 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.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Jaylen Waddle and Zach Ertz in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

WRMiami Dolphins#29PPG LEADER

Jaylen Waddle

PPG

10.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

910

Rec TDs

Targets

100

Bye

Week 6

TEWashington Commanders#20

Zach Ertz

PPG

7.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

504

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Jaylen Waddle

Zach Ertz

Head to Head

10.1 PPG7.8 PPG

16 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Jaylen Waddle: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR (ranked #29 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 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE in most league formats.

Jaylen Waddle vs Zach Ertz: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Jaylen Waddle (WR, Miami Dolphins) against Zach Ertz (TE, Washington Commanders) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Jaylen Waddle averaged 10.1 PPG in 2025 over 16 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.

Jaylen Waddle 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

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: Jaylen Waddle (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?

•Jaylen Waddle outscored Zach Ertz by a projected 39 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jaylen Waddle played 16 games in 2025 compared to Zach Ertz's 13. That durability gap means Jaylen Waddle contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jaylen Waddle scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Jaylen Waddle saw 100 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Jaylen Waddle is 8 years younger than Zach Ertz (27 vs 35), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Jaylen Waddle vs Zach Ertz: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Jaylen Waddle	Zach Ertz
PPG (Half-PPR)	10.1	7.8
Games Played	16	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	162	101
Receptions	64	50
Rec/Game	4.0	3.8
Receiving Yards	910	504
Rec Yds/Game	56.9	38.8
Receiving TDs	6	4
Targets	100	72
Target Share/Game	6.3	5.5
Age	27	35
Experience	4 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Jaylen Waddle at 10.1 PPG, 2.3 points per game above Zach Ertz's 7.8. 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.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Jaylen Waddle vs Zach Ertz

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Jaylen Waddle vs Zach Ertz

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Jaylen Waddle or Zach Ertz in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jaylen Waddle has the edge at 10.1 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 Jaylen Waddle and Zach Ertz average in 2025?▾

Jaylen Waddle averaged 10.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Zach Ertz averaged 7.8 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 2.3 points per game.

When are Jaylen Waddle and Zach Ertz's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Jaylen Waddle (MIA) 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.