Zach Ertz is Consensus Must-Add Waiver Wire Target

Arizona Cardinals TE Zach Ertz could help you win your Week 2 fantasy football matchup.

Arizona Cardinals tight end Zach Ertz isn't the biggest name in the desert, though he was certainly the most attractive fantasy player on Sunday.

In Week 1's 20-16 loss to the Washington Commanders, Ertz was targeted a whopping ten times by quarterback Josh Dobbs, who again will get the start in Week 2. 

Ertz has acted as a security blanket for just about every quarterback he's played with, and that looks to continue with Dobbs. Up next is a New York Giants squad that was just embarrassed on national television in 40-0 fashion. 

Fantasy experts everywhere say Ertz is a must-add on the waiver wire:

PFF

Analysis: Ertz was the clear starting tight end for Arizona, and he emerged as one of Joshua Dobbs’ favorite targets.

• Ertz averaged 11.6 fantasy points per game last season, the sixth-best mark among tight ends. However, he tore his ACL and MCL in Week 10, cutting his season short.
• It was unclear whether Ertz would have been ready for the start of the 2023 season, and former second-rounder Trey McBride was expected to at least share the workload. Ertz turning 33 in two months and the new coaching staff added to the concerns.
• He was limited in practice all week and questionable coming into the game, but he was consistently the tight end on the field in 11 personnel while also taking a clear majority of snaps in 12 and 13 personnel.
• McBride was largely restricted to two-tight end sets.
• Ertz caught six of his 10 targets for 21 yards.
• The offense in general needs to do better before fantasy managers place Ertz in their starting lineups, but the snap share and target share mixed with his history of success are too much to leave him on the waiver wire.

FantasyPros

Analysis: "Ertz is another nasty volume candidate who could offer up top-12 production in any week if he flops into the paint. Well, so much for being eased into action in Week 1 while returning from a major injury. Ertz played 77% of the snaps while rocking a 100% route participation. Ertz gobbled up a 33% target share, but he did almost nothing with it. He finished with six receptions and 21 receiving yards. In PPR leagues, this alone can pay the bills, but Ertz must show that he’s not total dust, or Trey McBride could begin to eat into his playing time."

Pro Football Network

Analysis: "It’s really impressive that Zach Ertz managed to turn six receptions into just 21 yards. Rostering and starting Cardinals players isn’t necessarily something you want to do. But the man saw 10 targets. That’s more than any TE entering the 4:00 games.

"Ertz can’t really move anymore, but he’s still a reliable set of hands. If you need a warm body at the tight end position, Ertz is at least a safe bet for a bunch of targets."