Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Harold Fannin Jr. vs Zach ErtzWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Harold Fannin Jr. is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.4 PPG to Zach Ertz's 7.8 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Harold Fannin Jr. is the better fantasy play this season.

Harold Fannin Jr. is the better play on a neutral week. 9.4 PPG with 744 yards gives a reliable baseline. Zach Ertz at 7.8 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Harold Fannin Jr. higher, but do not fade Zach Ertz entirely.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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TECleveland Browns#9PPG LEADER

Harold Fannin Jr.

PPG

9.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

731

Rec TDs

Targets

107

Bye

Week 11

TEWashington Commanders#20

Zach Ertz

PPG

7.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

504

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Harold Fannin Jr.

Zach Ertz

Head to Head

9.4 PPG7.8 PPG

16 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Harold Fannin Jr.: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #9 at the position). Zach Ertz: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #20 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Harold Fannin Jr. is producing at 43% of elite pace and Zach Ertz at 35%. That ranking gap means Harold Fannin Jr. carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Harold Fannin Jr. vs Zach Ertz: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Harold Fannin Jr. and Zach Ertz is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Cleveland Browns tight end put up 9.4 PPG in 2025 over 16 games; Zach Ertz of the Washington Commanders averaged 7.8 in 13. A 1.6-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 1.6 points favors Harold Fannin Jr., though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one tight end to the other.

Harold Fannin Jr. is the volume tight end in this matchup with 72 receptions for 731 yards, while Zach Ertz profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (4 scores on 50 catches). In weeks where Zach Ertz finds the end zone he out-scores Harold Fannin Jr., but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Harold Fannin Jr. sits Week 11 while Zach Ertz is off Week 7. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Harold Fannin Jr. (age 21) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Zach Ertz (age 35) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Harold Fannin Jr. outscored Zach Ertz by a projected 27 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Harold Fannin Jr. played 16 games in 2025 compared to Zach Ertz's 13. That durability gap means Harold Fannin Jr. contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Harold Fannin Jr. scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Harold Fannin Jr. saw 107 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Harold Fannin Jr. is 14 years younger than Zach Ertz (21 vs 35), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Harold Fannin Jr. vs Zach Ertz: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Harold Fannin Jr.	Zach Ertz
PPG (Half-PPR)	9.4	7.8
Games Played	16	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	150	101
Receptions	72	50
Rec/Game	4.5	3.8
Receiving Yards	731	504
Rec Yds/Game	45.7	38.8
Receiving TDs	6	4
Targets	107	72
Target Share/Game	6.7	5.5
Age	21	35
Experience	-	12 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 7

Summary

9.4 PPG for Harold Fannin Jr. versus 7.8 for Zach Ertz in 2025. The baseline favors Harold Fannin Jr., though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Harold Fannin Jr. or Zach Ertz in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Harold Fannin Jr. has the edge at 9.4 PPG compared to Zach Ertz's 7.8 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Harold Fannin Jr. and Zach Ertz average in 2025?▾

Harold Fannin Jr. averaged 9.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Zach Ertz averaged 7.8 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 1.6 points per game.

When are Harold Fannin Jr. and Zach Ertz's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE) has a bye in Week 11, and Zach Ertz (WAS) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Harold Fannin Jr. or Zach Ertz a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Harold Fannin Jr. outscored Zach Ertz by 1.6 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.