If you play fantasy football and need a tight end, Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz may be your guy.
Before you say, “Ertz is almost 34 and coming off a couple of injury-plagued seasons,” understand that he’s atop Washington’s depth chart that is expected to heavily feature the tight end in 2024.
Ertz is healthy and has looked terrific early in training camp. He also looks comfortable in offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s offense, an offense he has plenty of experience with. There’s also the quarterback. Ertz and rookie Jayden Daniels already appear to have developed a rapport.
So, where should fantasy owners look to draft Ertz?
Nathan Jahnke of Pro Football Focus named 10 fantasy sleepers for 2024, and he included Ertz. His projected ADP is in the 21st round, making him a potential bargain for a No. 1 tight end.
Ertz was once among the best fantasy tight ends. From 2015 to 2019, he consistently gained at least 70 receptions and 800 receiving yards. After a down 2020, he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals during the 2021 season and then finished as a top-12 fantasy tight end in fantasy points per game in both 2021 and 2022.
Ertz played seven games in 2023 but suffered a quad strain and didn’t return to action. He was also starting to get phased out by the budding Trey McBride. Ertz has since signed with the Washington Commanders, reuniting him with Kliff Kingsbury, who was his head coach with the Cardinals and is now the Commanders’ offensive coordinator.
A lot is working against Ertz, considering that he’s 33 years old, his recent injury history and the fact that Washington drafted a potential replacement in Ben Sinnott in the second round. It’s hard to imagine anyone with this low of an ADP being a top-six fantasy tight end, but there is a path for Ertz to get there. He just needs to stay healthy, hold off Sinnott and Father Time for a season and play as well as he did the last time Kingsbury was calling plays for him.
There are risks with Ertz. Washington does have Ben Sinnott, who has a high ceiling but has also been quiet in training camp. Cole Turner and Armani Rogers, both entering their third season, have impressed, but neither will challenge Ertz for playing time.
So, while there are risks, how risky is it to spend a late flier on a starting NFL tight end with a history of success?