Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Rico Dowdle vs Zach ErtzWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Rico Dowdle is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 11.6 PPG to Zach Ertz's 7.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Rico Dowdle is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Rico Dowdle (11.6 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.

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

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RBCarolina Panthers#21PPG LEADER

Rico Dowdle

PPG

11.6

Games

Rush Yds

1,076

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

297

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

Rico Dowdle

Zach Ertz

Head to Head

11.6 PPG7.8 PPG

17 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 5Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Rico Dowdle: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #21 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 3 (Flex/Starter) RB is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE in most league formats.

Rico Dowdle vs Zach Ertz: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Rico Dowdle (RB, Carolina Panthers) against Zach Ertz (TE, Washington Commanders) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Rico Dowdle averaged 11.6 PPG in 2025 over 17 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.

Rico Dowdle 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

Rico Dowdle 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: Rico Dowdle (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Zach Ertz (age 35) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Rico Dowdle outscored Zach Ertz by a projected 65 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Rico Dowdle played 17 games in 2025 compared to Zach Ertz's 13. That durability gap means Rico Dowdle contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Rico Dowdle scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 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.
•Rico Dowdle is 8 years younger than Zach Ertz (27 vs 35), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Rico Dowdle vs Zach Ertz: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Rico Dowdle	Zach Ertz
PPG (Half-PPR)	11.6	7.8
Games Played	17	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	197	101
Rushing Yards	1,076	0
Rush Yds/Game	63.3	0.0
Rushing TDs	6	0
Receptions	39	50
Receiving Yards	297	504
Targets	50	72
Total TDs	7	4
Age	27	35
Experience	5 yrs	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 5	Week 7

Summary

11.6 PPG for Rico Dowdle versus 7.8 for Zach Ertz in 2025. The baseline favors Rico Dowdle, 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 Rico Dowdle or Zach Ertz in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Rico Dowdle has the edge at 11.6 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 Rico Dowdle and Zach Ertz average in 2025?▾

Rico Dowdle averaged 11.6 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 3.8 points per game.

When are Rico Dowdle and Zach Ertz's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Rico Dowdle (CAR) 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.