Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Juwan Johnson vs Zach ErtzWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Juwan Johnson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.3 PPG to Zach Ertz's 7.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Juwan Johnson is the better fantasy play this season.

Statistically, Juwan Johnson and Zach Ertz are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 0.5-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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TENew Orleans Saints#17PPG LEADER

Juwan Johnson

PPG

8.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

889

Rec TDs

Targets

102

Bye

Week 8

TEWashington Commanders#20

Zach Ertz

PPG

7.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

504

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Juwan Johnson

Zach Ertz

Head to Head

8.3 PPG7.8 PPG

17 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Juwan Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #17 at the position). Zach Ertz: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #20 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Juwan Johnson is producing at 38% of elite pace and Zach Ertz at 35%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Juwan Johnson vs Zach Ertz: The Full Breakdown

Juwan Johnson (8.3 PPG) and Zach Ertz (7.8 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two tight ends are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Juwan Johnson played 17 games for the New Orleans Saints; Zach Ertz suited up 13 times for the Washington Commanders.

A 0.5-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.

Juwan Johnson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 77 receptions for 889 yards, while Zach Ertz profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (4 scores on 50 catches). In weeks where Zach Ertz finds the end zone he out-scores Juwan Johnson, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Juwan Johnson sits Week 8 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: Juwan Johnson (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?

•Juwan Johnson outscored Zach Ertz by a projected 9 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Juwan Johnson played 17 games in 2025 compared to Zach Ertz's 13. That durability gap means Juwan Johnson 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.
•Juwan Johnson saw 102 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Juwan Johnson is 6 years younger than Zach Ertz (29 vs 35), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Juwan Johnson vs Zach Ertz: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Juwan Johnson	Zach Ertz
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.3	7.8
Games Played	17	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	141	101
Receptions	77	50
Rec/Game	4.5	3.8
Receiving Yards	889	504
Rec Yds/Game	52.3	38.8
Receiving TDs	3	4
Targets	102	72
Target Share/Game	6.0	5.5
Age	29	35
Experience	5 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 7

Summary

8.3 PPG for Juwan Johnson versus 7.8 for Zach Ertz in 2025. The baseline favors Juwan Johnson, 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 Juwan Johnson or Zach Ertz in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Juwan Johnson has the edge at 8.3 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 Juwan Johnson and Zach Ertz average in 2025?▾

Juwan Johnson averaged 8.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Zach Ertz averaged 7.8 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 0.5 points per game.

When are Juwan Johnson and Zach Ertz's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Juwan Johnson (NO) has a bye in Week 8, and Zach Ertz (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Juwan Johnson or Zach Ertz a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Juwan Johnson outscored Zach Ertz by 0.5 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.