As we gear up to the start of the NFL season, Football Absurdity is going to bring you a comprehensive breakdown of every notable player that will be available in fantasy football drafts. When you don’t see us talking about Christine Michael or Mike Davis, don’t get mad at us for neglecting your favorite sleeper. Get mad at yourself for having bad taste in football players. We are only focusing on the top-rated players in standard scoring and PPR leagues.
With my player profiles, I’ve only decided to go back to look at their fantasy scoring for three years. I could show you lists from earlier, but most of the guys at the top are no longer in the league anymore. I’ve also added a chart for their usage over that time span. We will try to determine, based on those two factors, where the best tight end value lies.
Zach Ertz ADP and AAV:
Standard: 2nd among TEs, 26th overall
PPR: 2nd among TEs, 22nd overall
Zach Ertz Average Auction Value (AAV) $200 Budget: $38
Stats:
FANTASY SCORING — STANDARD
| Rank | Total Points | PPG Rank | PPG | |
| 2018 | 3rd | 164.3 | 3rd | 10.3 |
| 2017 | 3rd | 128.4 | 3rd | 9.2 |
| 2016 | 8th | 105.6 | 11th | 7.5 |
FANTASY SCORING — PPR
| Rank | Total Points | PPG Rank | PPG | |
| 2018 | 2nd | 280.3 | 2nd | 17.5 |
| 2017 | 3rd | 202.4 | 3rd | 14.5 |
| 2016 | 6th | 183.6 | 3rd | 13.1 |
PLAYER USAGE
| Receptions | Receptions Per Game | Targets | Targets Per Game | |
| 2018 | 116 | 7.3 | 156 | 9.8 |
| 2017 | 74 | 5.3 | 110 | 7.9 |
| 2016 | 78 | 5.6 | 106 | 7.5 |
Overview: Ertz has been a standard inclusion into the shortlist of top-tier tight ends for years. Last season he set a positional record with an incredible 116 receptions. He’s a favorite of Carson Wentz in the red zone, leading to his eight touchdowns in each of the last two seasons.
Strategy: Our Zach Ertz Auction Value ($200 Budget): $35
We love Zach Ertz and definitely rank him top 3 among tight ends, but we need to pump the brakes a little. We can’t see him repeating his insane 116 catch season, as he averaged 76 receptions in the two seasons prior to 2018. We aren’t the biggest fans of his second-round ADP or his near-$40 AAV. We’ll grab him in the beginning of the third or in the mid-$30s, but if another owner wants him more we’ll be more than happy to get a WR or RB at the end of second round or the beginning of the third round.
Best Case Scenario: Ertz somehow repeats his record-setting season catch total, a feat, we must emphasize, that only earned him the #2 tight end rank last season.
Worst Case Scenario: Philadelphia leans more on their run game and emerging tight end Dallas Goedert, siphoning usage from Ertz. His owners get a top 5 finish for their troubles, but could have gotten an upstart tight end with about the same stats 5+ rounds later or $30 cheaper.
