It's been a rough three-week stretch for Ertz, who has combined for 12.9 PPR points over that span against the Raiders, Falcons and Chargers. He's only had eight targets during that stretch, and two of those games were with Marcus Mariota when Jayden Daniels was out with a knee injury. We'll see if he can bounce back this week against the Bears, who have limited T.J. Hockenson, Sam LaPorta and Brock Bowers to 9.6 PPR points or less. Jake Ferguson torched Chicago for 21.2 PPR points, but Ferguson and Ertz aren't in the same tier right now. I would only use Ertz as a starter in deeper leagues in Week 6.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Blanked in Week 5
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Ertz failed to catch his only target in Sunday's 27-10 win over the Chargers.
Despite Jayden Daniels returning from a knee injury in Week 5, Ertz had his worst game of the season. He was targeted just once and didn't appear to be a part of the Commanders' offensive game plan. Ertz still logged 30 offensive snaps and operated as Washington's No. 1 tight end, playing ahead of John Bates (28 snaps) and Ben Sinnott (17 snaps). With both Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) and Noah Brown (groin/knee) sidelined Sunday, Ertz was expected to serve as one of the Commanders' primary receiving threats but failed to capitalize. He's likely to operate as Washington's top tight end again in the Week 6 matchup against the Bears.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Relatively quiet Sunday
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Ertz caught two of four targets for 21 yards in Sunday's 34-27 loss to the Falcons.
The 34-year-old tied Luke McCaffrey for the second-most receiving yards on the Commanders in Week 4, trailing Deebo Samuel's 72-yard performance. Although he ranked second on the team in yards, Ertz's performance was a little underwhelming considering two of the team's top three wideouts, Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) and Noah Brown (groin), were sidelined Sunday. Regardless, Ertz's target volume will likely stabilize when Jayden Daniels (knee) returns from injury, which could come in the Week 5 matchup against the Chargers.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: TEs to Sit
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Ertz could benefit if Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) is out, but Ertz only had three catches for 38 yards in Week 3 against Las Vegas on three targets. The Falcons are No. 1 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends, and Atlanta has held Cade Otton, T.J. Hockenson and Ja'Tavion Sanders to a combined three catches for 23 yards and no touchdowns on eight targets this season. I would only start Ertz in deeper leagues in Week 4.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Three grabs in Week 3 win
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Ertz caught all three of his targets for 38 yards in Sunday's 41-24 win over the Raiders.
The veteran tight end tied Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) and Luke McCaffrey for the team lead in receptions, as the Commanders did most of their damage on the ground with Marcus Mariota at quarterback instead of Jayden Daniels (knee). Ertz also saw his two-game TD streak end, and he sports a 12-128-2 line on 16 targets to begin the season. If Daniels is able to return in Week 4 against the Falcons, Ertz seems likely to have his target volume perk back up.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: TEs to Start
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Ertz has been great through two games with nine catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns on 13 targets against the Giants and Packers. We'll see what happens once Terry McLaurin starts to get more involved, but Ertz should be considered a No. 1 Fantasy tight end heading into Week 3 against Las Vegas, even if Jayden Daniels (knee) is out.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Paces pass catchers in loss
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Ertz brought in six of eight targets for 64 yards and a touchdown in the Commanders' 27-18 loss to the Packers on Thursday night.
Ertz set the pace in receiving yards for the Commanders while finishing as the runner-up in receptions and also tying for second in targets. The veteran tight end also recorded his second TD of the season on an impressive 20-yard catch-and-run early in the fourth quarter, making it an all-around rewarding fantasy performance despite the disappointing team outcome. With 13 target through two games, Ertz looks to be just as in sync with Jayden Daniels as he was in the latter's rookie 2024 campaign, and the duo next will turn their sights to the Raiders defense in a Week 3 home matchup on Sunday, Sept. 21.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Picks up where he left off with TD
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Ertz caught three of five targets for 26 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 21-6 win over the Giants.
After scoring six touchdowns in the last seven games of the 2024 regular season, Ertz picked up where he left off with a seven-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter. The 34-year-old tight end remains a reliable red-zone target for Jayden Daniels in an explosive Commanders offense. Ertz will try to continue his scoring binge Thursday in Green Bay.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: TEs to Sit
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Ertz combined for five catches for 67 yards on five targets in two games last year against the Giants, who were No. 3 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends. Terry McLaurin will play in Week 1, and Deebo Samuel is now on the roster, meaning Ertz could struggle for targets. I would only start Ertz in deeper leagues in Week 1, and I'll take the under on his receptions prop on FanDuel, which is 3.5.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Held out ahead of Week 1
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Ertz won't play in Saturday's preseason game against Baltimore, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.
Ertz and John Bates are both being rested -- in Ertz's case for a third straight week -- while 2024 second-round pick Ben Sinnott isn't among the 33 names being held out. It's the latest sign that Sinnott has made no real progress toward usurping Ertz, although there's perhaps still some risk it eventually happens. In any case, Ertz gets a solid target projection for Week 1 against the Giants, putting him in play as a lineup option even though he was drafted as a backup (or not at all) in most fantasy leagues. The uncertainty surrounding Terry McLaurin (contract) and Noah Brown (undisclosed injury) could further boost Ertz's volume outlook as the opener draws near, with the wideouts potentially having workload limitations even if they both end up playing (following prolonged absences this summer).
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Resting another preseason game
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Commanders coach Dan Quinn said Saturday that Ertz will rest rather than suit up alongside the rest of the starters during Monday's preseason game against the Bengals, Commanders writer Ben Standig reports.
Ertz won't join Jayden Daniels and the majority of Washington's starters in making their preseason debut versus Cincinnati, an unsurprising decision, given that as he heads into his age-35 season, the veteran tight end has little more to gain from exhibition reps. Veteran wideout Noah Brown will join Ertz with a day of rest on the sidelines, while top receiver Terry McLaurin came off the active/PUP list Saturday but won't be in consideration to take the field Monday.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Returning to Washington
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The Commanders agreed to terms with Ertz on a one-year, $6.25 million contract Saturday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Ertz can earn up to $9 million with incentives. Returning to Washington always made the most sense for the 34-year-old tight end after he appeared in all 17 regular-season games for the Commanders last season, reeling in 66 of 91 targets for 654 yards and seven touchdowns as one of Jayden Daniels' safety blankets in the middle of the field and red zone. Ertz's seven scores were his most since back-to-back eight-TD seasons in 2017 and 2018 with the Eagles. He also had a productive postseason, securing 18 passes for 155 yards and one touchdown, including an 11-104-0 effort in the NFC Championship Game loss to Philadelphia. Ertz should once again lead Washington's tight end room in 2025.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Dominates targets
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Ertz recorded 11 receptions on 16 targets for 104 yards in Sunday's 55-23 loss to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
Ertz was Jayden Daniels' favorite target throughout the game, allowing him to post the first 100-yard performance of his career in the postseason as well as his first overall since Week 9 of the 2019 season. He was particularly productive throughout the second half, tallying long gains of 21 and 16 yards. Ertz will enter the offseason as a free agent, though he had a resurgent season and will likely land a short-term deal in Washington or elsewhere around the league.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Full practice Thursday
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Ertz (rib/rest) practiced in full Thursday.
Ertz kicked off prep for the NFC Championship Game in the same manner as he did for the divisional round: DNP with listed rib/rest Wednesday. With an uncapped session now under his belt, the issue won't impede him from being available for Sunday's contest at Philadelphia, against whom he went for a combined 7-59-1 line on nine targets between two regular-season matchups.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Misses practice Wednesday
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Ertz (ribs/rest) didn't practice Wednesday.
The Commanders listed Ertz as a non-participant in their first practice of the week last Tuesday with the same "ribs/rest" label before he upgraded to limited participation Wednesday and full participation Thursday. He headed into this past Saturday's 45-31 divisional-round win over the Lions without a designation, finishing with five catches for 28 yards and a touchdown on five targets. If he follows a similar practice pattern this week, Ertz should be fully cleared ahead of Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Eagles.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Key role despite modest numbers
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Ertz brought in all five targets for 28 yards and a touchdown in the Commanders' 45-31 divisional-round win over the Lions on Saturday night.
The veteran tight end finished second in receptions for the Commanders, but he was only fourth in receiving yards thanks to his short-area role. However, Ertz's value went beyond the stat sheet Saturday, even though his five-yard touchdown grab late in the first half did extend Washington's lead to 10 points at the time. Additionally, Ertz was able to convert a key fourth down early in the second quarter that led to him being checked for a concussion and which helped lead to a Brian Robinson one-yard touchdown run, and he also managed to handle a tricky bounce and recover an onside kick with 5:01 remaining and Washington up by 14 points. Ertz should once again play a key complementary role in an NFC Championship Game battle against either the Rams or his old Eagles squad Sunday, Jan. 26.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Getting concussion check
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Ertz is under evaluation for a concussion during Saturday's divisional-round game at Detroit.
With the Commanders facing fourth-and-3 at the Lions' nine-yard line early in the second quarter, QB Jayden Daniels connected with Ertz for a seven-yard gain, but in the process of getting tackled the tight end took hits from multiple defenders and appeared to be banged-up afterward. If Ertz is diagnosed with a concussion, he'll finish Saturday's contest with two catches (on two targets) for 13 yards.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Ready for Saturday
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Ertz (ribs) doesn't have a designation for Saturday's divisional-round game at Detroit.
Ertz progressed from no activity Tuesday to some Wednesday before logging a full session Thursday as he tended to a rib injury. With his status confirmed ahead of Saturday's contest, he should be in store for the 5.3 targets per game that he's averaged in 18 outings between the regular season and playoffs.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Limited in Wednesday's practice
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Ertz was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice due to a rib injury.
On Washington's initial divisional-round injury report released Tuesday, Ertz was listed as a non-participant in practice due to both the rib issue and rest, but only the rib issue appears next to his name on Wednesday's report. Ertz is likely just getting some extra maintenance ahead of Saturday's game against the Lions, as Commanders head coach Dan Quinn hasn't suggested that the veteran tight end's status for the contest is in any jeopardy. In the Commanders' wild-card win over the Buccaneers this past Sunday, Ertz played 62 percent of the snaps on offense and finished with two catches for 23 yards on four targets.
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Commanders' Zach Ertz: Meager output in Sunday's win
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Ertz had two receptions on four targets for 23 yards in Sunday's 23-20 wild-card round win over the Buccaneers.
Ertz failed to continue the scoring binge he went on in the second half of the regular season, but he still played a vital role in the Commanders advancing to the next round of the playoffs. The veteran tight end's receptions came on successful third- and fourth-down attempts as Washington dominated the time-of-possession game Sunday. Look for Ertz to remain involved as a key safety valve for Jayden Daniels as the sixth-seeded Commanders visit the No. 1-seeded Lions in Saturday's divisional round matchup.
