Washington
TE · PIT vs CLE
Final pts
11.7pts
6.2 proj · +5.5
Ertz
TE · PHI vs LA
Proj pts
6.2pts
market
Darnell Washington or Zach Ertz: who should I start in Week 4?
Toss-up: lean Darnell Washington over Zach Ertz; the two are level at 6.2. Darnell Washington leads at 6.2. Zach Ertz is the first one out, 0.1 short.
Availability & news
Zach Ertz
Ertz reverted to the Eagles' practice squad Tuesday, per the NFL's transaction log.(rotowire, Sep 29, 2026)
Highlights
Cons
- Low TE usage11% target share
- Thin volume3.3 targets/g
Pros
- Spike upside15.0 ceiling
Cons
- Low team total19.5 team total
Some recent form, opportunity and matchup figures still lean on the 2025 season (not enough games played this season yet).
Week 4 · Updated Tue 29 Sep, 6:00 AM ET
The widest gap between them, in proportion, is touchdown dependence: Washington 8%, Ertz 19%.
Ertz: “Ertz reverted to the Eagles' practice squad Tuesday, per the NFL's transaction log.” — RotoWire, Sep 29, 2026.
Latest game on the card: Ertz 1.9 (PPR points).
Why Darnell Washington
Start Darnell Washington — projects 6.2, a tough matchup vs CLE.
Darnell Washington projects 6.2 points on a 3.0–6.5 range. The matchup grades as tough against CLE. Usage: targets / game at 3.3. Net: start Darnell Washington this week.
Working against Washington: Low TE usage (11% target share), Thin volume (3.3 targets/g).
Where Washington leads the head-to-head: Implied team total (20.5 vs 19.5); vs season (+0.7 vs -0.2); Consistency (51% vs 41%); Boom rate (25% vs 23%).
Why Zach Ertz
Sit Zach Ertz — projects 6.2, an even matchup vs LA.
Zach Ertz projects 6.2 points on a 5.2–15.0 range. The matchup grades as neutral against LA. Usage: targets / game at 5.5. Net: bench Zach Ertz this week.
Working for Ertz: Spike upside (15.0 ceiling).
Working against Ertz: Low team total (19.5 team total).
Where Ertz leads the head-to-head: Floor (5.2 vs 3.0); Ceiling (15.0 vs 6.5); Target share (19% vs 11%); Matchup grade (recency weighted) (C+ vs D+); Last 3 avg (8.2 vs 5.1); Last 5 avg (8.4 vs 5.1); Bust rate (15% vs 25%); Targets / game (5.5 vs 3.3); Snap share (66% vs 60%); Touchdown dependence (19% vs 8%); Rest / schedule (Short week (5d) vs Short week (4d)).
Recent form
Darnell Washington's last 3 games: PPR points 1.7, 3.8, 9.7 (low to high; the card does not say which came first).
Zach Ertz's last 5 games: PPR points 9.4, 8.2, 20.6, 2.1, 1.9 (oldest to newest).
Washington has already beaten Ertz's 6.2 projection in 1 of his 3; Ertz has beaten Washington's 6.2 in 3 of his 5.
At least 1 of these 5 games was played before the 2026 season.
Matchup
Darnell Washington (PIT) played CLE (final: CLE 27 – 24 PIT). The matchup is rated tough. Betting line: implied team total 20.5, spread -2.5.
Zach Ertz (PHI) faces LA, kickoff Sun, Oct 4, 1:00 PM ET. The matchup is rated neutral. Betting line: implied team total 19.5, spread +3.5.
What flips it
Washington and Ertz are level on projection (6.2). Ertz's ceiling (15) clears Washington's projection, so a big game from Ertz flips it. Washington's floor (3) sits under Ertz's projection, so a quiet game from Washington flips it too. Confidence in the call: lower.
More start/sit comparisons from this week's PPR projections. Open a pair for the call and the reasoning.
This week's toughest calls
- Brenton Strange or Colston Loveland11.5 · 11.4
- Mark Andrews or Tucker Kraft12.9 · 13.0
- Dalton Schultz or Kenyon Sadiq13.6 · 13.5
- Sam LaPorta or Travis Kelce14.9 · 15.1
- Harold Fannin Jr. or Tucker Kraft13.2 · 13.0
- AJ Barner or Hunter Henry11.0 · 11.2
- More TE start/sit calls (tight ends this week)