Zach Ertz signed with the Washington Commanders. We have another piece off the free-agent market. Ertz re-signed with a 1 year, 6.25 million deal with incentives to get up to $9 million. Ertz stays with the Commanders who have been active so far. They traded for wide receiver Deebo Samuel to give their young franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels the best chance to succeed. Ertz is a veteran who brings leadership and reliability to an up-and-coming offense. What does Ertz’s signing mean for others? Who gains and loses values now that Ertz is back with the Commanders?
Winners of the Zach Ertz Signing
Jayden Daniels: QB- Washington Commanders
How do you top a rookie year where you win Offensive Rookie of the Year? You get your second-highest target getter back and add another star at wide receiver. That is what Jayden Daniels will get in his sophomore season. Zach Ertz’s signing brings back one of Daniels’ favorite targets. Daniels only had 480 passing attempts and 25 passing touchdowns. With Ertz back on the team, I expect both of those numbers to go up.
Daniels’s rushing upside, which helped propel him to a QB5 finish, may come down, but he should still repeat as a top-ten quarterback. Having three solid receiving options that command attention from secondaries helps. Daniels is a great processor of the field and works through progression quickly. He should be able to find which of his receivers is open and deliver the ball quickly with accuracy. Don’t hesitate to draft him this season.
Zach Ertz: TE- Washington Commanders
This is the right spot for Zach Ertz. At 34 years old, he still has plenty left to give but certainly lacks the explosiveness of his youth. After a few down years with the Arizona Cardinals, he showed shades of his younger self in 2024. He had 91 targets and 7 touchdowns. Ertz probably could have secured a better contract on the open market, but he stays where he is not only wanted but needed. A place where he has had success.
The incentive latent contract shows that he and the team believe he can reproduce his 2024 stats, and so should fantasy managers. I expect Ertz to be a popular late-round draft pick for those who wait on the tight end position. He should see well over 75 targets. His touchdowns may dip slightly due to the addition of Deebo Samuel, but overall, Ertz’s fantasy production should be solid.
Evan Engram: TE- Free Agent
With Zach Ertz signing, Evan Engram is the only real starting tight end left on the market. After two top ten seasons in 2022 and 2023 Engram only played nine games in 2024. He now should have his choice of landing spots after being cut by the Jacksonville Jaguars. There are still plenty of teams, including some contending teams that need a tight end and they all should be looking at Engram.
While its never great getting cut, especially from a team that saved your career, the sky is the limit for Engram. Depending on where he lands he should be a solid fantasy option in 2025. He will probably be drafted around the TE10 but will finish closer to the TE5.
Losers of the Zach Ertz Signing
Ben Sinnott: TE- Washington Commanders
If you are waiting for the Ben Sinnott breakout, you probably need to wait another year. I’m not sure it ever actually happens but I’m not going to totally rain on your parade. After being selected in the second round last year, Sinnott struggled to get on the field. He only once had over a 50% snap share. In fact he was out snapped by John Bates. Bates also saw more targets then Sinnott. Its not a great look for Sinnott and the people who are holding shares of him. If you can stash him on your taxi squad in dynasty he might be worth having but for redraft leagues he should be left on waivers.
Brian Robinson: RB- Washington Commanders
Its been a rough career for running back Brian Robinson. His rookie year he was shot in the leg and it caused him to miss four games and not be 100% for the other 12. His sophomore year he was still splitting time with Antonio Gibson. He was the lead back but on a team that was constantly playing from behind so his opportunities weren’t there. 2024 looked to be his year. The Commanders had a new owner and coach. Robinson was the clear lead back with Austin Ekeler being the change of pace back.
What Robinson probably didn’t expect was how good Jayden Daniels was going to be and the change of scheme to a more pass friendly offense. This limited Robinsons upside and overall fantasy scoring. Now he sees the Commanders make another commitment to the passing game by re-signing Ertz. Its a sign that the running game will be a secondary thought. Robinson is not known for his pass catching skills and will continue to lose that work to Ekeler or possibly a rookie. Robinson will be rostered in every league due to being the main guy but probably never cracks your lineup outside of bye weeks.
Deebo Samuel: WR- Washington Commanders
I loved the Deebo Samuel trade for the Washington Commanders and Deebo himself. Its a place that he wanted to be. Its a team that desperately needed another wide receiver across from Terry McLaurin. Deebo is the clear second guy. Last years receiving core of Olamide Zaccheaus, Dyami Brown and Noah Brown are all free agents. Deebo has plenty of room to get snaps.
The question will be targets. Zaccheaus was third on the team after McLaurin and Ertz with 72 targets. Deebo has only ever seen under 80 targets the season he was injured and missed 9 games. Even with him missing a few games each year he has had over 80 targets. While its not a huge jump up from Zaccheaus’s 72, Ertz being back on the team means there are less to go around. Deebo will have to capitalize on the one she does get to get back into solid fantasy production range. The Commanders still have Luke McCaffery who has speed and will be a factor in the offense.
Deebo has made a chunk of his fantasy production from rushing attempts. The Commanders gave six rushing attempts to their wide receivers last year. Deebo Samuel had 42 last season with the San Francisco 49ers. If Deebo doesn’t have the rushing numbers and his receiving numbers drop slightly he will be a let down for fantasy managers.
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Deebo Samuel to the Commanders
