Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Luke Musgrave vs Zach ErtzWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Zach Ertz is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.8 PPG to Luke Musgrave's 4.8 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 3.0-PPG advantage is real (7.8 to 4.8), and Zach Ertz's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Luke Musgrave is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Luke Musgrave and Zach Ertz in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

TEGreen Bay Packers#99

Luke Musgrave

PPG

4.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

335

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 10

TEWashington Commanders#20PPG LEADER

Zach Ertz

PPG

7.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

504

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Luke Musgrave

Zach Ertz

Head to Head

4.8 PPG7.8 PPG

14 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Luke Musgrave: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Zach Ertz: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #20 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Luke Musgrave is producing at 22% 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.

Luke Musgrave vs Zach Ertz: The Full Breakdown

Luke Musgrave and Zach Ertz are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Luke Musgrave averaged 4.8 PPG across 14 games with the Green Bay Packers, while Zach Ertz posted 7.8 PPG in 13 appearances for the Washington Commanders.

A 3.0-PPG gap gives Zach Ertz the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Zach Ertz is the volume tight end in this matchup with 50 receptions for 504 yards, while Luke Musgrave profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (2 scores on 30 catches). In weeks where Luke Musgrave finds the end zone he out-scores Zach Ertz, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Luke Musgrave sits Week 10 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

If you can acquire Zach Ertz at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Luke Musgrave is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Luke Musgrave (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?

•Zach Ertz outscored Luke Musgrave by a projected 51 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Luke Musgrave played 14 games in 2025 compared to Zach Ertz's 13. That durability gap means Luke Musgrave 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.
•Zach Ertz saw 72 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Luke Musgrave vs Zach Ertz: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Luke Musgrave	Zach Ertz
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.8	7.8
Games Played	14	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	67	101
Receptions	30	50
Rec/Game	2.1	3.8
Receiving Yards	335	504
Rec Yds/Game	23.9	38.8
Receiving TDs	2	4
Targets	42	72
Target Share/Game	3.0	5.5
Age	-	35
Experience	-	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 7

Summary

Zach Ertz outscored Luke Musgrave by 3.0 PPG in 2025 (7.8 to 4.8). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Luke Musgrave 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 Luke Musgrave 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 Luke Musgrave or Zach Ertz in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Zach Ertz has the edge at 7.8 PPG compared to Luke Musgrave's 4.8 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 Luke Musgrave and Zach Ertz average in 2025?▾

Luke Musgrave averaged 4.8 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Zach Ertz averaged 7.8 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 3.0 points per game.

When are Luke Musgrave and Zach Ertz's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Luke Musgrave (GB) has a bye in Week 10, and Zach Ertz (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Luke Musgrave or Zach Ertz a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Zach Ertz outscored Luke Musgrave by 3.0 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.