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Head to Head

Updated from live stats

Josh Jacobs vs Zach ErtzWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Josh Jacobs is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.6 PPG to Zach Ertz's 7.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Josh Jacobs is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Josh Jacobs (14.6 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.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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RBGreen Bay Packers#8PPG LEADER
Josh Jacobs
PPG
14.6
Games
15
Rush Yds
929
Rush TDs
13
Rec
36
Rec Yds
282
Bye
Week 11
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
Josh Jacobs
Zach Ertz

Head to Head

14.6 PPG7.8 PPG
15 GP13 GP
Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Josh Jacobs: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #8 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 2 (Strong Starter) RB is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE in most league formats.

Josh Jacobs vs Zach Ertz: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Josh Jacobs (RB, Green Bay Packers) against Zach Ertz (TE, Washington Commanders) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Josh Jacobs averaged 14.6 PPG in 2025 over 15 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.

Josh Jacobs has his bye in Week 11, Zach Ertz in Week 7. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Josh Jacobs 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: Josh Jacobs (age 28, 6 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds 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?

  • Josh Jacobs outscored Zach Ertz by a projected 116 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Josh Jacobs played 15 games in 2025 compared to Zach Ertz's 13. That durability gap means Josh Jacobs contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Josh Jacobs scored 14 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.9 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
  • Zach Ertz caught 50 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
  • Josh Jacobs is 7 years younger than Zach Ertz (28 vs 35), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Josh Jacobs vs Zach Ertz: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatJosh JacobsZach Ertz
PPG (Half-PPR)14.67.8
Games Played1513
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)219101
Rushing Yards9290
Rush Yds/Game61.90.0
Rushing TDs130
Receptions3650
Receiving Yards282504
Targets4472
Total TDs144
Age2835
Experience6 yrs12 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 11Week 7

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Josh Jacobs at 14.6 PPG, 6.8 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Josh Jacobs or Zach Ertz in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Josh Jacobs has the edge at 14.6 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 Josh Jacobs and Zach Ertz average in 2025?

Josh Jacobs averaged 14.6 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 6.8 points per game.

When are Josh Jacobs and Zach Ertz's bye weeks in 2026?

Josh Jacobs (GB) 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.

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