Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Rashee Rice vs Zach ErtzWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 15.5 PPG to Zach Ertz's 7.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Rashee Rice is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Rashee Rice (15.5 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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WRKansas City Chiefs#5PPG LEADER

Rashee Rice

PPG

15.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

571

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

TEWashington Commanders#20

Zach Ertz

PPG

7.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

504

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Rashee Rice

Zach Ertz

Head to Head

15.5 PPG7.8 PPG

8 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Rashee Rice: Tier 1 (Elite) WR (ranked #5 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 1 (Elite) WR is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE in most league formats.

Rashee Rice vs Zach Ertz: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Rashee Rice (WR, Kansas City Chiefs) against Zach Ertz (TE, Washington Commanders) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Rashee Rice averaged 15.5 PPG in 2025 over 8 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.

Rashee Rice has his bye in Week 5, Zach Ertz in Week 7. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Rashee Rice at a discount because your league-mates undervalue wide receiver production, do it. Zach Ertz is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Rashee Rice (age 26) 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?

•Rashee Rice outscored Zach Ertz by a projected 131 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Zach Ertz played 13 games in 2025 compared to Rashee Rice's 8. That durability gap means Zach Ertz contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Rashee Rice scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at wide receiver.
•Rashee Rice saw 78 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the wide receiver position.
•Rashee Rice is 9 years younger than Zach Ertz (26 vs 35), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Rashee Rice vs Zach Ertz: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Rashee Rice	Zach Ertz
PPG (Half-PPR)	15.5	7.8
Games Played	8	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	124	101
Receptions	53	50
Rec/Game	6.6	3.8
Receiving Yards	571	504
Rec Yds/Game	71.4	38.8
Receiving TDs	5	4
Targets	78	72
Target Share/Game	9.8	5.5
Age	26	35
Experience	2 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 7

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Rashee Rice holds the PPG edge with solid output at 15.5 points per game. Zach Ertz averaged 7.8 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 Rashee Rice or Zach Ertz in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Rashee Rice has the edge at 15.5 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 Rashee Rice and Zach Ertz average in 2025?▾

Rashee Rice averaged 15.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 8 games in 2025. Zach Ertz averaged 7.8 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 7.7 points per game.

When are Rashee Rice and Zach Ertz's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Rashee Rice (KC) has a bye in Week 5, and Zach Ertz (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.