Jake Ferguson or Woody Marks: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 2 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Start Ferguson: Dallas' TE1 has the clearer route to usable volume

Start Jake Ferguson because Dallas' scoring environment and his secure No. 1 tight end role give him the sturdier path to production, even after Week 1's dud. ESPN 2026-09-15 reports that his involvement should increase against Washington, while Woody Marks remains behind David Montgomery in a change-of-pace role (ESPN 2026-09-13). The margin is modest, but Marks' limited receiving role makes his floor especially fragile; Ferguson's risk is that his low target rate persists despite his red-zone profile.

What flips it: A confirmed expansion of Marks' role ahead of Montgomery.

Sources: ESPN · Sep 15, 2026 · ESPN · Sep 13, 2026

AI editor

Jake Ferguson

Jake Ferguson

TE12DALvs WSH

Projected Points

Start· medium
Woody Marks

Woody Marks

RB44HOUvs CIN

Projected Points

Sit

Jake Ferguson’s market

REC
O/U 3.5
+105 / -134
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 26.5
-109 / -115
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+265
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Woody Marks’s market

RUSH YDS
O/U 31.5
-111 / -113
Rushing Yards Props →
REC
O/U 1.5
+127 / -163
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 10.5
-114 / -114
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+205
Anytime Touchdown Props →
WSH@
DALSun, Sep 20, 4:25 PM ETView the game →
CIN@
HOUSun, Sep 20, 1:00 PM ETView the game →

Why Jake Ferguson

Start· medium

TE1 and high-volume receiving tight end. Reliable chain-mover and red-zone target over the middle.

TE12 with a 28.0-point implied team total and 76% snaps as Dallas' unquestioned No. 1 tight end — Week 1 dud was volume noise, not a role change.

  • Week 1's two-catch outing looks more like an involvement problem to correct than evidence of a reduced role.
  • Dallas' goal-line opportunities suit Ferguson's red-zone skill more than a modest target share suggests.

The call

  • Dallas is projected for 28.0 implied points as a 4.5-point favorite, and Ferguson is the locked-in TE1 at a 76% snap share — that's a high-scoring offense funneling through a full-time player.
  • The 7% target share is the one red flag, but it's a single-game sample off a two-catch, six-yard Week 1; ESPN (9/15) reports he remains the unquestioned No. 1 tight end and is expected to be more involved vs. Washington.
  • Washington grades 20 of 32 in DvP composite vs tight ends — a mildly favorable draw, though it's a one-game sample with zero confidence, so the matchup neither makes nor breaks the call.
  • At 9.6 projected points and a TE12 consensus rank, he clears the typical 12-team replacement TE comfortably; the floor is thin if the target share stays at 7%, but the role and game environment justify the start.

Latest on Ferguson

Role

Jake Ferguson had a disappointing Week 1 with just two catches for six yards, but remains the unquestioned No. 1 tight end and is expected to be more involved in Week 2 against Washington.

ESPN · Sep 15, 2026
Cowboys' TD record: I caught a TD pass from Dak Prescott

Prescott needs four TDs to pass Tony Romo in the record book, so we sought the best moments from those who are helping him make history.

ESPN · Sep 16, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Why Woody Marks

Sit

RB2 behind David Montgomery. Between-the-tackles committee back who carried 196 times for 703 yards as a rookie with light pass-game usage.

Sit — bench-tier RB at consensus RB44: 24.5 implied team total, 3% target share.

  • Two-minute work gives Marks a PPR escape hatch if Houston falls behind or Montgomery needs a breather.
  • His rookie rushing résumé supports a larger role if Houston's committee unexpectedly shifts.

Latest on Marks

Role

Marks handled 10 touches for 40 yards in a clear change-of-pace role behind Montgomery in Week 1, including two-minute drill work, but Montgomery is now viewed as Houston's top back heading into Week 2 vs. the Bengals.

ESPN · Sep 13, 2026
Why the David Montgomery Trade Makes Woody Marks Better

Houston traded for a veteran back and John Harris explains how it'll make their second-year rusher even stronger.

houstontexans.com · Sep 10, 2026

Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.

Head-to-head stats

MetricJake FergusonWoody Marks
Projected points
Consensus rankTE12RB44
Opponent vs positionWSH · 20 of 321-game sampleCIN · 16 of 321-game sample
Receptions9 of 3230 of 32
Receiving Yards24 of 3227 of 32
Receiving TDs30 of 32—
Targets6 of 32—
Anytime TD30 of 3213 of 32
Rushing Yards—7 of 32
Rushing TDs—15 of 32
Rushing Attempts—4 of 32
Target share7%3%
Reception share9%4%
Implied total · spread28.0-4.524.5-2.5
Depth chartTE1RB2
Snap share76%51%
Start/Sit record0–1—

Recent form

Jake Ferguson — last 1 week

Week 1vs NYG

Woody Marks — last 1 week

Week 1vs BUF

Signal breakdown

  • 9.6 vs 7.1 projected PPR pointsJake Ferguson +
  • Rank 12 vs 44Jake Ferguson +
  • Opponent DvP rank 20 vs 16 (32 = softest)even
  • Implied 28.0 vs 24.5 team pointsJake Ferguson +
  • No injury designationseven
  • 76% vs 51% snap shareJake Ferguson +

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