News: The Eagles continue to reshape their offense under new coach Chip Kelly. After taking offensive tackle Lane Johnson in the first round, the Eagles selected Stanford tight end Zach Ertz with the 35th overall pick Friday. Ertz was widely considered the best tight end in this draft after Notre Dame's Tyler Eifert, who went to the Bengals with the 21st pick on Thursday. Ertz replaced Coby Fleener last year and started all 14 games for the Cardinal in 2012. He finished with a team-high 69 catches for 898 yards and six scores, earning first-team All-Pac 12 and All-American honors.
Analysis: Ertz gives Kelly another versatile weapon on offense. He can line up in the slot or out wide with an ability to create separation. Ertz teams with Brent Celek and James Casey to form a potent tight-end corps, but this might limit Ertz's Fantasy value this season. He is not worth drafting in the majority of standard leagues, but he is worth an early-round selection in rookie-only formats.
News: After Tyler Eifert went to Cincinnati in the first round of the NFL draft, speculation began that Stanford tight end Zach Ertz would be the second to move. He's expected to be a Top 100 pick with the 49ers and his former coach Jim Harbaugh reportedly showing interest. The 6-foot-5, 249-pounder had 69 catches for 898 yards (13.0 avg.) and six touchdowns with the Cardinal last season.
Analysis: Ertz is a big boy with a nice catching radius and big hands, though he has his fair share of drops. He's more of a receiver than a blocker which could limit his playing time as a rookie and he's been suspect as a receiver over the middle. He's also been banged up over his career and doesn't have a lot of experience. Don't expect Ertz to be a contributor right away for Fantasy purposes unless he ends up in the perfect situation (the Niners wouldn't be it). He'll be worth a middle-to-late pick in dynasty/keeper leagues and a mid-round choice in rookie-only drafts.
