Week 6 at Minnesota
We are still waiting for that crazy Zach Ertz game that we saw several times last season, but it really hasn't come yet. He did score his first touchdown of the season last Sunday, but the overall numbers including targets and catches are way down from last year.
The Vikings are up next and are ranked sixth in aFPA to tight ends. Despite the tough matchup, Ertz is still a top-five fantasy tight end this week because he still is the most targeted Eagles player. Start him in all leagues and formats.
Week 5 vs New York Jets
Zach Ertz is catching balls and being targeted, but he is not putting up high receiving yard numbers nor has he gotten in the end zone this season yet. In the last two seasons, he had eight touchdown catches each year. Ertz's targets are down from the record-breaking 2018 season, but we expected that.
Ertz has a tough matchup against the Jets who are 4th in aFPA to tight ends. That shouldn't scare you away as the Eagles have Ertz as a main part of every game plan.
Start Ertz Week 5 in all leagues and formats as a high-end TE1 against New York. Ertz will eventually find the end zone and we expect the catches and targets to be high this week.
Week 4 at Green Bay
We know Zach Ertz will be the most targeted player on the field on Thursday. Ertz's production has been average at best early in the season. He has 17 receptions for 190 yards, but is still looking for his first touchdown. It doesn't mean he isn't one of the best tight ends in the NFL. His numbers are just behind last year's.
It won't get much easier in Green Bay this week. The Packers are 10th in aFPA to tight ends. We expect the targets and expect similar production that Ertz had the first three games.
Start him in all leagues as a top-five fantasy tight end and hope he starts finding the end zone to help raise his value.
Week 3 vs Detroit
Zach Ertz was back to normal Week 2 after a quiet Week 1. It wasn't a great performance Sunday night, but he did get targeted 16 times which was not out of the ordinary last season. With the top two wide receivers out, Ertz will be the primary target most of the game until they return. Ertz ended up with eight catches for 72 yards last Sunday night.
It's a very good matchup for Ertz who will face the Lions this week. Detroit was ranked 24th in aFPA to tight ends last season. Expect the targets to be high which should lead him to a big afternoon.
Start Ertz in all leagues and formats as he is a top 3 fantasy tight end for Week 3.
Week 2 at Atlanta
Zach Ertz's targets were low for Zach Ertz. He was only targeted seven times last Sunday which produced five receptions for 55 yards. Last season, he averaged just under 10 per game. No need to worry though. Ertz might not repeat the record numbers from 2018 but he is a top-five tight end every week.
The Falcons has some success defending the tight ends Week 1 as they are ranked eighth in aFPA to the position. Ertz had five catches for 48 yards against Atlanta last season. We expect him to have better numbers in Week 2.
Start Ertz in all leagues and formats as top three tight end for Week 2. He will have huge games as he did last season.
Week 1 vs Washington
Zach Ertz set all kinds of records in 2018. He caught 116 passes and was targeted 156 times, He has a much higher fantasy value in PPR leagues, but still is a top three fantasy tight end in standard leagues.
The Redskins were tough against tight ends, ranked fourth in aFPA last season. Ertz had seven receptions for 91 yards and a touchdown in the first meeting last year, but wasn't prominent in the last game of the season. Overall, he has been excellent against Washington during his career.
Start Ertz in all leagues and formats as he should be QB Carson Wentz's No. 1 target for Week 1.
Fantasy Upside
Zach Ertz was targeted a record 156 times last season, the most ever to a tight end. It produced 116 receptions for 1,163 yards and eight touchdowns. Those numbers clearly put him in the top five of fantasy tight ends and arguably the best overall option in 2019. The Eagles offense will be very good and QB Carson Wentz will continue to view Ertz as the No. 1 target.
Fantasy Downside
It’s hard to imagine Ertz reaching the target and reception numbers again. The Eagles have too many offensive weapons including the addition of WR Desean Jackson. Ertz will probably have to settle for fewer looks.
2019 Bottom Line
Ertz will have a strong 2019 season and ranks as the No. 3 fantasy tight end overall. He doesn’t put up the yardage that Travis Kelce and George Kittle do, but he is the best option in a PPR format. Ertz will probably be around the 100-reception mark with similar yardage and touchdowns to 2018. His ADP of 22 might be a little high in standard leagues, but if you take him there, you will still get value.
Week 19 at New Orleans Saints
Just how charmed the Nick Foles-led Eagles are will be tested this week, as the Super Bowl MVP and winner of four consecutive games travels to New Orleans where Philadelphia lost by 41 in Week 11. The Birds have the third lowest implied team total this week at 21.75 points. The Saints completely shut down Zach Ertz in Week 11, making his floor lower than usual this week. He's still an elite option but not higher than Travis Kelce or Eric Ebron.
Week 17 at Washington Redskins
The Eagles offensive starters will be full-go in Week 17, as Philadelphia hopes to sneak back into the playoffs with a win and Vikings loss. With Nick Foles at the helm, this offense has posted back-to-back weeks of 30 points or more. Vegas has set a lower implied total for Philly this week at 24, despite the Eagles being installed as 6.5-point favorites. Washington ranks 9th in aFPA to TEs, but Zach Ertz is a beast. Start him as usual in Week 17.
Week 16 vs. Houston Texans
Jolly Ol' St. Nick Foles brought presents yet again to Philadelphia fans last week, and with playoff hopes still alive, Foles may come down the chimney yet again. Against Houston, Philly has an implied team total of 23.75 points, a little better than average for the Week 16 slate. The Texans rank just 27th in aFPA to TEs this season. Fire up one of the best TEs in the game yet again.
