Week8 · 2026

Starting1

Scoring

New comparison

Toss-up

Ertz

TE · PHI @ WAS

Kickoff Sun 8:20 PM ET

Projected points0.9ptsUsage estimate

First out

Kacmarek

TE · MIA vs NE

Kickoff Sun 4:25 PM ETLatest report: Limited · hamstring

Projected points1.0pts

Toss-up

Bench

Will Kacmarek or Zach Ertz: Who Should I Start in Week 8?

Toss-up. Zach Ertz gets the nod over Will Kacmarek.

Confidence: Lower; The two projections come from different sources; one is a Nuvela estimate

Ertz's number is our own estimate because his prop lines aren't posted yet, so this call is less sure than the gap looks.

Case for Kacmarek

The case for Kacmarek is an offense expected to score more (18.0 points to 17.3) and more of the snaps (43% to 23%).

Flips if

Start Will Kacmarek instead if you want more of the snaps (43% to 23%).

Risk

Will Kacmarek was limited in practice: check the final injury report and the inactives, posted about 90 minutes before kickoff. Weather in Will Kacmarek's game: Outdoor · 73F, 6 mph wind, 100% rain. Check it again before kickoff. As of Fri 8:00 PM ET

Highlights

Injuries as of Fri 8:00 PM ET

ErtzToss-upTE · PHI @ WASUsually 1.7−0.8pts this week

Helps him

+5.0ptstrack recordHis projection also weighs his past seasons, which ran above this year’s pace.
WASvs TEsEdgeWAS is the 2nd softest defense for tight ends.

Hurts him

−5.3ptsroleHe’s expected to play fewer snaps this week than he has lately.
−0.5ptspaceFew players at his position keep up numbers like his, so we expect a little less.
10%targetsHe draws only 10% of his team’s targets.
2.7per gameHe sees only 2.7 targets a game.

KacmarekFirst outTE · MIA vs NEUsually 0.9+0.1pts this week

Helps him

1.6ceilingHis best weeks reach about 1.6 points.

Hurts him

5%targetsHe draws only 5% of his team’s targets.
1.0per gameHe sees only 1.0 targets a game.

Points are what each line adds to or takes off his usual week. EdgeFrom the game around him.

Stat comparison

Every player you picked, stat by stat, most important first.

Scoring

Projection0.91.0

TD pointsof the projectionOur estimate0.4

Expected TDsthis weekOur estimate0.07

Projected team points17.318.0

Red zone targetsper game0.30.0

Role

Snap share23%43%

Usage worthpts4.31.5

Target share10%5%

Targets / game2.71.0

Air yards share10%2%

Vacated targets this week15.60.0

RZ target share13%0%

Inside 10 target share0%0%

Catch rate38%50%

Usage worth vs scoredEarned by usage 4.3Scored 1.7Earned by usage 1.5Scored 0.9

WOPR0.210.09

Range

Floor0.50.5

Ceiling1.61.6

Points from TDssteadier when lower0%0%

Big weeks (15+ pts)1 game0%

Dud weeks (under 5 pts)lower is better1 game100%

Matchup

Matchup gradevs his positionA+2026, 6 gmC-2026, 7 gm

Game scriptExpected to trailExpected to trail

Opp takeaways / gamelower is better1.31.0

Defense funnelNeutralNeutral

Opp pass yds allowed28th (soft)19th (average)

Starting QBMcKee (Active)Willis (Active)

Opp defender outPayne (NT)None listed

WeatherNo concernOutdoor73F, 6 mph wind, 100% rain

Roof / surfacegrassOpenOpen

Rest / scheduleNormalNormal

Opp pace12th (average)16th (average)

Opp deep targets allowed / game0.514th (average)0.930th (soft)

Opp catch rate allowed76%23rd (soft)70%10th (tough)

Form

Last 3 avg1.71.3

Last 5 avg1.71.1

vs seasonCooling+0.4 (Rising)

Yards per route run0.850.67

Receiving aDOT7.64.3

Target share trendSteadyCooling

Crowd

Nuvela position ranklower is betterTE82TE80

Yards linereceivingOur estimate0.5

Deciding on someone else?

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