Darnell Washington Fantasy outlook, stats and Week 5 start/sit for 2026
- Age
- 25
- Height / weight
- 6'7", 264 lb
- Experience
- 4th season
- Drafted
- 2023 R3, #93
2026 Season
- PPR PPG
- 6.7
- Pos rank
- TE3
- Rostered
- 3%
Week 5 vs. Colts, Sun Oct 11, 1:00 PM ET 7th vs. TEs, favorable
Darnell Washington Fantasy Football Stats & Analysis
Producing as
TE3 · Elite
Scoring rate
6.7 PPG
Played
4 games
Role
Flex
Trend
Stable
Role Direction
| Usage | Season | Last 4 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Target Share (Team) | 9.1% | 9.1% | 0% |
| Targets/G | 3.3 | 3.3 | 0% |
| Team Pass Att/Gteam | 38.5 | 38.5 | 0% |
Darnell Washington's 2026 Season, Week by Week
4 games played: one top-5 week, one mid-range start and two busts. The next four matchups include three of the league's softest pass defenses.
- Week 2, Loss,at NE,1.7,TE49
- Week 3, Win,vs CIN,9.7,TE18
- Week 4, Loss,at CLE,11.7,TE1
- Up next. Week 5, Oct 11,vs IND,FavorableColts vs. TEs
- Week 6, Oct 18,at TB,NeutralBuccaneers vs. TEs
- Week 7, Oct 25,at NO,FavorableSaints vs. TEs
- Week 8, Nov 1,vs CLE,FavorableBrowns vs. TEs
Matchup rank is PPR points allowed to TEs through Week 4. 1st allows the most, 32nd the fewest.
Should You Start or Roster Darnell Washington?
Washington is averaging 6.7 PPR points per game through 4 games, with 9 catches for 119 yards and 1 TD on 13 targets. That ranks TE3, which makes him a weekly starter in 12-team leagues.
His yards per target (11.5) is in the 89th percentile among TEs, the best of his efficiency marks; his target share (7.6%) is the weakest, in the 3rd. His quarterback has been Aaron Rodgers.
His best week was TE1 in Week 4 at the Browns (11.7 points); his worst, TE49 in Week 2 at the Patriots (1.7). Two favorable matchups are coming: the Colts (7th vs. TEs) in Week 5 and the Saints (3rd vs. TEs) in Week 7.
For the season-long call, whether to hold, trade or start him, check where Washington ranks among all TEs in Redraft Command.
What's Driving His Production
Percentile vs. every TE with at least 8 targets in 2026. The line marks the league median.
Target share
7.6%3rd percentile, near the bottom
Yards per target
11.589th percentile, above average
Catch rate
75.0%43rd percentile, about average
Fantasy points per target
1.9046th percentile, about average
Darnell Washington 2026 Game Log
| Wk | Opp | Result | FPTS | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | vs Falcons | W 20–13 | 3.8 | TE35 |
| 2 | @ Patriots | L 3–20 | 1.7 | TE49 |
| 3 | vs Bengals | W 30–27 | 9.7 | TE18 |
| 4 | @ Browns | L 24–27 | 11.7 | TE1 |
| Total | 2–2 | 26.9 | TE3 |
Career Fantasy Stats by Season
| Season | Team | GP | Tgt | Rec | Rec yds | Rec TD | FPTS | PPG | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | PIT | 4 | 13 | 9 | 119 | 1 | 26.9 | 6.7 | — |
| 2025 | PIT | 16 | 43 | 31 | 364 | 1 | 73.4 | 4.6 | TE39 |
| 2024 | PIT | 17 | 25 | 19 | 200 | 1 | 45.0 | 2.6 | TE48 |
| 2023 | PIT | 17 | 10 | 7 | 61 | 0 | 13.1 | 0.8 | TE82 |
| Career | 54 | 91 | 66 | 744 | 3 | 158.4 | 2.9 |
Rest-of-Season Outlook and Availability
Outlook
The problem is the math above him. A new four-year extension locks in his role, but Pat Freiermuth, DK Metcalf, and Michael Pittman all sit ahead in the pecking order, which keeps his weekly volume thin and one touchdown is hard to bank on. Projected for roughly 33 catches and 345 yards, he's a TE3 worth stashing only in tight-end-premium or deep formats where his per-route production can quietly pay off. Next on the depth chart after him: Robert Tonyan. Full outlook
Injury status
Active, no designation
He has not missed a game this season. Career games missed to injury: 2. Injury history
- 2025unknownPlayed through
- 2025elbow2 games
TEs like Darnell Washington
TE1Harold FanninBrowns12.6 PPG
TE2Pat FreiermuthSteelers9.7 PPG
TE3You are hereDarnell WashingtonSteelers6.7 PPG
TE4Blake WhiteheartBrowns2.8 PPG
TE5Robert TonyanSteelers0.3 PPGDarnell Washington Fantasy Football FAQ
Should I start Darnell Washington in Week 5?
Darnell Washington is a weekly starter in 12-team leagues for Week 5 against the Colts, as the TE3 in PPR points per game this season (6.7 a game). The Colts rank 7th in PPR points allowed to TEs, a favorable matchup. Get the start/sit call for Washington.
How many fantasy points is Darnell Washington averaging in 2026?
Darnell Washington is averaging 6.7 PPR fantasy points per game in 2026, 26.9 points across 4 games. His last game produced 11.7 points.
Where does Darnell Washington rank in fantasy football in 2026?
Darnell Washington ranks TE3 in PPR points per game in 2026 and TE18 in total points, through 4 games. That makes him a weekly starter in 12-team leagues. View his complete season statistics.
Is Darnell Washington worth rostering in fantasy football?
Yes, in the right league: Darnell Washington is a weekly starter in TE-premium, 12-team and 10-team leagues. He is rostered in 3% of Sleeper leagues.
What is Darnell Washington's fantasy football role?
Darnell Washington is TE2 on the Steelers depth chart. He is averaging 3.3 targets a game, on 66% of the offensive snaps in 2026.
What are Darnell Washington's upcoming fantasy football matchups?
Darnell Washington's next three games are Week 5 vs. the Colts (7th in PPR points allowed to TEs, favorable), Week 6 at the Buccaneers (11th in PPR points allowed to TEs, neutral) and Week 7 at the Saints (3rd in PPR points allowed to TEs, favorable). Two of them are favorable by points allowed to the position.
How consistent has Darnell Washington been in fantasy football this season?
Darnell Washington has finished as a top-12 TE in 1 of his 4 games this season and outside the top 36 in 1. His weekly scoring has a standard deviation of 4.7 points around his 6.7-point average.
What is Darnell Washington's fantasy floor and ceiling?
This season Darnell Washington's floor has been 1.7 PPR points (Week 2, TE49) and his ceiling 11.7 (Week 4, TE1). His median week has been 6.8 points. See Washington's full game log.
Darnell Washington 2026 Stats
2026 through Week 4 · Pittsburgh SteelersTouchdowns account for 22% of his fantasy production, so his weekly output leans on volume more than scoring.
Receiving
- Rec
- 9
- Yards
- 119
- TD
- 1
- Targets
- 13
13.2 Y/R69.2% Catch %
Fantasy (PPR)
- Points
- 26.9
- Pos rank
- TE3
11.7 Best Week 4 @ CLE1.7 Worst Week 2 @ NE
Advanced Receiving Stats
Washington is an intermediate target (5.6 yards per target last season), with a 9.0% target share this season.
| Stat | 2026 Thru Wk 4 | 2025 13 games | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | ||||
| Yards per target | 9.2 | 80th | 8.5 | 75th |
| Fantasy points per target | 1.38 | 63rd | 0.99 | 33rd |
| Yards per route run | — | — | 1.43 | 60th |
| YAC per reception | 9.3 | 95th | 7.4 | 96th |
| Catch rate | 69.2% | 33rd | 72.1% | 40th |
| Usage | ||||
| Target share | 9.0% | 20th | 9.0% | 35th |
| Snap share | 66.0% | 50th | 57.2% | 40th |
| Air-yards share | 4.6% | 13th | 8.2% | 44th |
| Red-zone targets | 2 | 33rd | 8 | 42nd |
| Route participation | — | — | 48.1% | 40th |
| Style | ||||
| Average depth of target | 5.1 | 28th | 5.6 | 42nd |
Percentiles: 2026 through Week 4 among 41 qualified TEs · 2025 (13 games, weeks 1–17) among 53. Grey bars describe style, not quality.
Profile: Washington adds yards after the catch and gains a lot per target, but sees few air yards and draws few targets.
For fantasy: his floor is his volume, 3.3 targets a game this season; efficiency decides how much of it becomes points.
Fantasy Points per Game, Every Season
6.7
Fantasy PPG
TE3
Fantasy finish
3.3
Targets/g
30
Rec yds/g
Darnell Washington career stats by season
| Season | GP | Tgt | Rec | Rec yds | Rec TD | Rush yds | FPTS | PPG | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026to date | 4 | 13 | 9 | 119 | 1 | 0 | 26.9 | 6.7 | TE3 |
| 2025 | 16 | 43 | 31 | 364 | 1 | 0 | 73.4 | 4.6 | TE39 |
| 2024 | 17 | 25 | 19 | 200 | 1 | 0 | 45.0 | 2.6 | TE48 |
| 2023 | 17 | 10 | 7 | 61 | 0 | 0 | 13.1 | 0.8 | TE82 |
| Career | 54 | 91 | 66 | 744 | 3 | 0 | 158.4 | 2.9 | — |
What His Career Numbers Say
2.9
Career PPG
54 games over 4 seasons
98%
Availability
Share of team games he played
4%
Top-12 weeks
Share of his games as a TE1
3.2
Weekly swing
Standard deviation, low
Washington has averaged 2.9 fantasy points per game over 54 games and 4 seasons, without a top-12 finish.
So far in 2026 he is at 6.7 per game, up 2.1 from 2025. His volume has held at about 3.3 targets a game, so the change is efficiency and scoring. His quarterback this season has been Aaron Rodgers.
Career numbers describe the past; for what he is worth from here, see Washington's rest-of-season rank and trade value in Redraft Command.
Career highs
- 364Rec yards2025
- 1Rec TD2026
- 73.4Fantasy pts2025 · TE39
- 744Career rec yds2023–2026
TEs like Darnell Washington
TE1Harold FanninBrowns12.6 PPGTE2Pat FreiermuthSteelers9.7 PPGTE3You are hereDarnell WashingtonSteelers6.7 PPGTE4Blake WhiteheartBrowns2.8 PPGTE5Robert TonyanSteelers0.3 PPGDarnell Washington Stats FAQ
How many fantasy points does Darnell Washington have in 2026?
Darnell Washington has 26.9 PPR fantasy points in 2026 through Week 4, 6.7 per game across 4 games. That total ranks TE18 at the position. See how those numbers break down week by week.
How many receiving yards does Darnell Washington have this season?
Darnell Washington has 119 receiving yards in 2026 through Week 4, on 9 catches and 13 targets. His high was 67 yards, in Week 3 against the Bengals.
How many receptions does Darnell Washington have this season?
Darnell Washington has 9 receptions in 2026 through Week 4, 2.3 a game, on 13 targets. His high was 3 catches, in Week 3 against the Bengals.
How many targets does Darnell Washington have this season?
Darnell Washington has drawn 13 targets in 2026 through Week 4, 3.3 a game, and caught 69% of them. His high was 5 targets, in Week 4 at the Browns.
How many receiving touchdowns does Darnell Washington have this season?
Darnell Washington has 1 receiving touchdown in 2026 through Week 4.
How many receiving yards per game is Darnell Washington averaging?
Darnell Washington is averaging 29.8 receiving yards per game in 2026, 119 yards across 4 games.
How many yards per reception is Darnell Washington averaging?
Darnell Washington is averaging 13.2 yards per reception in 2026, 119 yards on 9 catches.
How many games has Darnell Washington played in 2026?
Darnell Washington has played 4 games in the 2026 season through Week 4.
What were Darnell Washington's stats last season?
In 2025, Darnell Washington caught 31 of 43 targets for 364 yards and 1 touchdown in 16 games. That was 73.4 PPR points (4.6 per game), a TE39 finish.
What are Darnell Washington's career NFL stats?
Across 4 seasons and 54 games, Darnell Washington has 66 catches for 744 yards and 3 touchdowns, for 158.4 PPR fantasy points (2.9 per game).
How many touchdowns does Darnell Washington have in his career?
Darnell Washington has 3 touchdowns in his NFL career: 0 rushing and 3 receiving, over 54 games.
How many career receiving yards does Darnell Washington have?
Darnell Washington has 744 career receiving yards over 4 seasons, on 66 catches.
Darnell Washington Game Log 2026
Games played
4
FPTS/G (PPR)
6.7
Targets/g
3.3
Rec/g
2.3
Rec yds/g
29.8
Yds/rec
13.2
Across 4 games in 2026, Darnell Washington has averaged 3.3 targets, 2.3 receptions and 6.7 PPR fantasy points per game. Darnell Washington has finished as a top-12 TE in 1 of those weeks, and inside the top 24 in 2. The best week was Week 4 against CLE (11.7 points); the lowest was Week 2 against NE (1.7).
| Wk | Opp | Result | FPTS | TGT | REC | REC YDS | REC TD | YPR | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ATL16th | W 20-13 | 3.8 | 2 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 9.0 | TE35 |
Week 1 · ATL · W 20-13 · 3.8 pts
How the 3.8 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 2 | NE32nd | L 3-20 | 1.7 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7.0 | TE49 |
Week 2 · NE · L 3-20 · 1.7 pts
How the 1.7 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 3 | CIN14th | W 30-27 | 9.7 | 4 | 3 | 67 | 0 | 22.3 | TE18 |
Week 3 · CIN · W 30-27 · 9.7 pts
How the 9.7 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 4 | CLE9th | L 24-27 | 11.7 | 5 | 3 | 27 | 1 | 9.0 | TE1 |
Week 4 · CLE · L 24-27 · 11.7 pts
How the 11.7 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
Opponent rank is fantasy points allowed to TEs across 2026: 1st allows the most, 32nd the fewest.
Where His Weeks Finished
One TE1 week, one TE2 week and two busts. For a tight end ranked TE3 overall, the spread matters more than the average: you get a top-5 ceiling and a waiver-wire floor.
Game-by-Game Breakdown
Season high in a loss
3/5, 27 yds, 1 TD.
Just 5.4 yards per target. A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
Efficient in a home win
3/4, 67 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
Shut down by New England
1/2, 7 yds.
Just 3.5 yards per target. A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Held in check by Atlanta
2/2, 18 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Fantasy Points By Week
- Weekly points
- Season average (6.7)
Upcoming Matchups
View matchup — Pittsburgh Steelers vs Indianapolis Colts
View matchup — Pittsburgh Steelers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
View matchup — Pittsburgh Steelers vs New Orleans Saints
View matchup — Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cleveland Browns
Darnell Washington Game Log 2025
Games played
16
FPTS/G (PPR)
4.6
Targets/g
2.7
Rec/g
1.9
Rec yds/g
22.8
Yds/rec
11.7
Across 16 games in 2025, Darnell Washington has averaged 2.7 targets, 1.9 receptions and 4.6 PPR fantasy points per game. Darnell Washington has finished as a top-12 TE in 1 of those weeks, and inside the top 24 in 4. The best week was Week 11 against CIN (10.7 points); the lowest was Week 1 against NYJ (0.0).
| Wk | Opp | Result | FPTS | TGT | REC | REC YDS | REC TD | YPR | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NYJ12th | W 34-32 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | TE82 |
Week 1 · NYJ · W 34-32 · 0.0 pts
| |||||||||
| 2 | SEA10th | L 17-31 | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | TE43 |
Week 2 · SEA · L 17-31 · 2.0 pts
| |||||||||
| 3 | NE11th | W 21-14 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | TE80 |
Week 3 · NE · W 21-14 · 0.0 pts
| |||||||||
| 4 | MIN27th | W 24-21 | 5.0 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 0 | 6.7 | TE30 |
Week 4 · MIN · W 24-21 · 5.0 pts
How the 5.0 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 5 | Bye week | ||||||||
| 6 | CLE22nd | W 23-9 | 9.2 | 5 | 3 | 62 | 0 | 20.7 | TE21 |
Week 6 · CLE · W 23-9 · 9.2 pts
How the 9.2 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 7 | CIN1st | L 31-33 | 9.2 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.7 | TE19 |
Week 7 · CIN · L 31-33 · 9.2 pts
How the 9.2 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 8 | GB24th | L 25-35 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | TE70 |
Week 8 · GB · L 25-35 · 0.0 pts
| |||||||||
| 9 | IND3rd | W 27-20 | 8.3 | 6 | 4 | 43 | 0 | 10.8 | TE23 |
Week 9 · IND · W 27-20 · 8.3 pts
How the 8.3 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 10 | LAC26th | L 10-25 | 2.5 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15.0 | TE39 |
Week 10 · LAC · L 10-25 · 2.5 pts
How the 2.5 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 11 | CIN1st | W 34-12 | 10.7 | 5 | 4 | 67 | 0 | 16.8 | TE9 |
Week 11 · CIN · W 34-12 · 10.7 pts
How the 10.7 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 12 | CHI15th | L 28-31 | 4.2 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 0 | 11.0 | TE33 |
Week 12 · CHI · L 28-31 · 4.2 pts
How the 4.2 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 13 | BUF32nd | L 7-26 | 6.5 | 4 | 2 | 45 | 0 | 22.5 | TE26 |
Week 13 · BUF · L 7-26 · 6.5 pts
How the 6.5 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 14 | BAL25th | W 27-22 | 2.2 | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12.0 | TE41 |
Week 14 · BAL · W 27-22 · 2.2 pts
How the 2.2 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 15 | MIA5th | W 28-15 | 5.5 | 4 | 3 | 25 | 0 | 8.3 | TE27 |
Week 15 · MIA · W 28-15 · 5.5 pts
How the 5.5 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 16 | DET16th | W 29-24 | 4.6 | 4 | 3 | 36 | 0 | 12.0 | TE34 |
Week 16 · DET · W 29-24 · 4.6 pts
How the 4.6 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 17 | CLE22nd | L 6-13 | 3.5 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 0 | 7.5 | TE38 |
Week 17 · CLE · L 6-13 · 3.5 pts
How the 3.5 points scored (PPR)
| |||||||||
| 18 | Did not play | ||||||||
Opponent rank is fantasy points allowed to TEs across 2025: 1st allows the most, 32nd the fewest.
Where His Weeks Finished
One TE1 week, three TE2 weeks and 12 busts. For a tight end who finished TE42 overall, the spread mattered more than the average: you got a top-12 ceiling and a waiver-wire floor.
Wk 1 TE82 · Wk 2 TE43 · Wk 3 TE80 · Wk 4 TE30 · Wk 6 TE21 · Wk 7 TE19 · Wk 8 TE70 · Wk 9 TE23 · Wk 10 TE39 · Wk 11 TE9 · Wk 12 TE33 · Wk 13 TE26 · Wk 14 TE41 · Wk 15 TE27 · Wk 16 TE34 · Wk 17 TE38
Game-by-Game Breakdown
Shut down by Cleveland
2/2, 15 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Held in check by Detroit
3/4, 36 yds. 1 fumble lost.
One lost fumble in a game that landed right at his season average.
Held in check by Miami
3/4, 25 yds.
Just 6.3 yards per target. A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
Held in check by Baltimore
1/1, 12 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Shut down by Buffalo
2/4, 45 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
Shut down by Chicago
2/2, 22 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed right at his season average.
TE1 week vs. Cincinnati
4/5, 67 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
Shut down by the Chargers
1/1, 15 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Steady in a win vs. Indianapolis
4/6, 43 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
Shut down by Green Bay
0/0, 0 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Steady in a loss at Cincinnati
3/5, 2 yds, 1 TD.
Just 0.4 yards per target. A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
Efficient in a home win
3/5, 62 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.
Held in check by Minnesota
3/3, 20 yds.
Just 6.7 yards per target. A clean, mistake-free game that landed right at his season average.
Held in check by New England
0/0, 0 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Shut down by Seattle
0/1, 0 yds.
Just 0.0 yards per target. A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
Held in check by the Jets
0/0, 0 yds.
A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.
TEs like Darnell Washington
TE1Harold FanninBrowns12.6 PPGTE2Pat FreiermuthSteelers9.7 PPGTE3You are hereDarnell WashingtonSteelers6.7 PPGTE4Blake WhiteheartBrowns2.8 PPGTE5Robert TonyanSteelers0.3 PPGDarnell Washington Game Log FAQ
How did Darnell Washington do in his last game?
Darnell Washington scored 11.7 PPR points in Week 4 at the Browns, a 27–24 loss, a TE1 finish. He caught 3 of 5 targets for 27 yards and 1 touchdown. View his 2026 season totals.
How many fantasy points did Darnell Washington score in his last game?
Darnell Washington scored 11.7 PPR fantasy points in his last game, Week 4 at the Browns, a TE1 finish for the week. That was 5.0 above his season average of 6.7.
How many receiving yards did Darnell Washington have in his last game?
Darnell Washington had 27 receiving yards on 3 catches in Week 4 at the Browns, from 5 targets.
How many touchdowns did Darnell Washington score in his last game?
Darnell Washington scored 1 touchdown in Week 4 at the Browns: 0 rushing and 1 receiving.
How many receptions did Darnell Washington have in his last game?
Darnell Washington caught 3 of 5 targets for 27 yards in Week 4 at the Browns.
What were Darnell Washington's stats in Week 3?
In Week 3 against the Bengals, a 30–27 win, Darnell Washington caught 3 of 4 targets for 67 yards. That was 9.7 PPR points, a TE18 finish.
What was Darnell Washington's best game this season?
Darnell Washington's best 2026 game was Week 4 at the Browns: 11.7 PPR points, a TE1 finish. He caught 3 of 5 targets for 27 yards and 1 touchdown.
What was Darnell Washington's worst game this season?
Darnell Washington's lowest-scoring 2026 game was Week 2 at the Patriots: 1.7 PPR points, a TE49 finish. He caught 1 of 2 targets for 7 yards.
How many games has Darnell Washington scored a touchdown in this season?
Darnell Washington has scored a touchdown in 1 of his 4 games this season, most recently in Week 4.
Can I see Darnell Washington's game logs from previous seasons?
Yes. The season selector above the game log switches it to Washington's weekly results from any season from 2023 through 2025.
Darnell Washington Rest-of-Season Outlook
Efficient TE1 every week
Preseason Projection vs. Reality
He finished TE39 last season at 4.6 points per game.
Our Take After Week 4
Through 4 games he's TE3 at 6.7 PPR points per game, against 4.6 over 16 games last season (TE39). He's running ahead of last season's pace.
Last season he ranked 31st of 81 in route participation (44.0%), 36th of 82 in target share (8.2%) and 22nd of 82 in efficiency (1.43 yards per route run). His points come from his efficiency. Target share is the soft spot. Aaron Rodgers is his quarterback.
He's TE2 on the depth chart, so his value depends on the players ahead of him.
The next favorable matchups are the Colts in Week 5 (7th against TEs) and the Saints in Week 7 (3rd against TEs).
Read our preseason outlook (June 2026)
Published June 17, 2026. Kept for reference; the take above replaces it.
The arrow is pointing up. Washington's snap rate climbed to 57.2% in 2025 while his target share nearly doubled year over year, from 5.4% to 8.2%, and 43 looks turned into 31 catches for 364 yards. The efficiency underneath is real: 1.43 yards per route run, a 0.316 EPA per play, a 60.5% success rate, and 7.39 yards after the catch per reception from a 6-foot-7, 264-pound frame that breaks tackles. He even drew eight red-zone targets despite playing only 13 games.
The problem is the math above him. A new four-year extension locks in his role, but Pat Freiermuth, DK Metcalf, and Michael Pittman all sit ahead in the pecking order, which keeps his weekly volume thin and one touchdown is hard to bank on. Projected for roughly 33 catches and 345 yards, he's a TE3 worth stashing only in tight-end-premium or deep formats where his per-route production can quietly pay off.
What Drives His Outlook
His 2025 rank among the 81 tight ends who played at least six games. Each bar is one tight end, best on the left; his is highlighted.
Route participation
Target share
Efficiency
- Average depth of target
- 5.6
- Drop rate
- 9.3%
- Red-zone targets
- 8
- Route participation
- 44.0%
- YAC per reception
- 7.4
What Could Change His Value
Upside
- A soft stretchThe Colts in Week 5 and the Saints in Week 7 are top-10 matchups for TEs.Wk 5 IND, 7thWk 6 TB, 11thWk 7 NO, 3rdWk 8 CLE, 10th
- Strong efficiency1.43 yards per route run, 22nd of 82 TEs in 2025.
Risk
- RoleHe's TE2 on the depth chart.
- Ball security2 fumbles in 2025.
- DropsA 9.3% drop rate in 2025.
TEs like Darnell Washington
TE1Harold FanninBrowns12.6 PPGTE2Pat FreiermuthSteelers9.7 PPGTE3You are hereDarnell WashingtonSteelers6.7 PPGTE4Blake WhiteheartBrowns2.8 PPGTE5Robert TonyanSteelers0.3 PPGDarnell Washington Fantasy Outlook FAQ
What is Darnell Washington's fantasy outlook for the rest of the 2026 season?
Darnell Washington projects as an efficient TE1 every week for the rest of the 2026 season: a weekly starter in TE-premium, 12-team and 10-team leagues. His efficiency (1.43 yards per route run, 22nd of 82 TEs in 2025) supports that. His target share (8.2% target share, 36th of 82 TEs in 2025) holds him back. See his live rank in Redraft Command.
What is Darnell Washington's rest-of-season fantasy ranking?
Darnell Washington is the TE3 in PPR points per game through Week 4. That puts him in TE1 territory, a weekly starter in 12-team leagues.
What is Darnell Washington's projected role going forward?
Darnell Washington is TE2 on the depth chart, so a bigger role needs an injury or a change ahead of him.
Will Darnell Washington get more targets?
Darnell Washington's targets are holding steady: 4.5 a game over his last two games against 3.3 for the season. His share of the offense is what his fantasy value rides on.
What is Darnell Washington's fantasy football upside?
Darnell Washington's upside: his ceiling this season is 11.7 PPR points (Week 4, TE1), his efficiency (1.43 yards per route run, 22nd of 82 TEs in 2025) gives him a weekly floor to build on and the Colts in Week 5 and the Saints in Week 7 are top-10 matchups for TEs.
What could hurt Darnell Washington's fantasy value?
Darnell Washington's risks: his target share (8.2% target share, 36th of 82 TEs in 2025) limits his scoring. See his injury status and history.
How difficult is Darnell Washington's remaining fantasy schedule?
Favorable: of his next seven games, 4 come against a top-10 matchup for TEs and 1 against one of the stingiest defenses, by PPR points allowed to the position.
Darnell Washington Injury Update & History
Practice participation
Week 5 report starts Wednesday, Oct 7What it means: Washington was on the Week 2 report, practiced in full on Friday and played.
| Week | Injury | Wed | Thu | Fri | Game status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 5vs IND, Oct 11 | — | Oct 7 | Oct 8 | Oct 9 | Due Fri |
| Week 2@ NE, Sep 20 | — | — | — | Full | Played |
Injury History at a Glance
Two logged injuries in four seasons. Most of his lost time came from a broken forearm injury in 2025; nothing else has cost him a game.
Durability
79/100
Games missed
Injuries
Longest absence
Broken forearm injury · 2025
Where He's Been Hurt
Marker size shows games missed. A dashed ring means he played through it.
| Body part | Injuries | Games missed |
|---|---|---|
| Elbow / arm | 1 | 2 |
| Other | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 2 | 2 |
Injury risk profile: Moderate
- No body part injured twice
- Questionable in 2025, 2 games missed
- 2 games in 4 seasons
- 2 injuries spread across 2 body parts
Darnell Washington Injury History
Every logged injury, most recent first. Games missed are regular-season games.
- 2026
Healthy 0 games missed
No injury has cost Washington a game this season.
- 2025
Questionable, surgery Played through
Questionable: Surgery
- 2025
Broken Forearm, surgery 2 games
Suffered a broken arm in the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns, which required surgery and ended his season.
TEs like Darnell Washington
TE1Harold FanninBrowns12.6 PPGTE2Pat FreiermuthSteelers9.7 PPGTE3You are hereDarnell WashingtonSteelers6.7 PPGTE4Blake WhiteheartBrowns2.8 PPGTE5Robert TonyanSteelers0.3 PPGDarnell Washington Injury FAQ
Is Darnell Washington injured?
No. As of October 2, 2026, Darnell Washington is active with no injury designation. He has played every game in 2026.
Is Darnell Washington playing this week?
Darnell Washington has no injury designation for Week 5 against the Colts on Sunday, October 11, so he is on track to play. Washington was on the Week 2 report, practiced in full on Friday and played. Should you start him?
Has Darnell Washington missed any games this season?
No. Darnell Washington has played in every Steelers game in 2026, 4 games so far.
What is Darnell Washington's injury history?
Darnell Washington has 2 logged NFL injuries, which have cost him 2 games in all: 2 for a broken forearm injury in 2025. No body part has been injured twice.
What was Darnell Washington's most recent injury?
Darnell Washington's most recent logged injury was a questionable injury in Week 18 of 2025. He played through it and missed no regular-season games.
Does Darnell Washington have any recurring injuries?
No. Darnell Washington's two logged injuries were to two different body parts, so the record shows no recurring pattern.
What was Darnell Washington's worst injury?
Darnell Washington's longest absence came from a broken forearm injury in 2025, which cost him 2 games, all of the games he has missed to injury.
Latest Darnell Washington News & Updates
Washington posts season high in loss at Cleveland
3 REC, 27 YDS, 1 TD (5 TGT)
11.7 fantasy points · TE1
Washington caught 3 of 5 targets for 27 yards and one touchdown in the 27–24 loss at Cleveland. That was 13% of the team's targets.
Season Timeline
Every update this season, grouped by week, newest first.
Week 3Sep 27W 30–27 vs CIN
Fantasy impact: Positive. Washington solid in win vs. Cincinnati
9.7 fantasy points · TE18 · 3.0 above his 6.7 average
Washington caught 3 of 4 targets for 67 yards in the 30–27 win vs. Cincinnati. That was 13% of the team's targets.
Game logWeek 2Sep 20L 3–20 @ NE
Fantasy impact: Negative. Washington struggles at New England
1.7 fantasy points · TE49 · 5.0 below his 6.7 average
Washington caught 1 of 2 targets for 7 yards in the 20–3 loss at New England. That was 5% of the team's targets.
Game logWeek 1Sep 13W 20–13 vs ATL
Fantasy impact: Negative. Washington struggles vs. Atlanta
3.8 fantasy points · TE35 · 2.9 below his 6.7 average
Washington caught 2 of 2 targets for 18 yards in the 20–13 win vs. Atlanta. That was 5% of the team's targets.
Game log
No updates of this type yet this season.
Steelers Teammates News
Updates on Washington's quarterback and target competition.
- Aaron Rodgers: Mixed performance in Week 4 loss (opens in new tab)Aaron Rodgers, QB. 153 pass attempts this season. Via Dynasty CommandNeutral
- DK Metcalf: Inefficient with team-high target total (opens in new tab)DK Metcalf, WR. 33 targets this season. Via Dynasty CommandNeutral
- Aaron Rodgers: Solid numbers in Week 1 win (opens in new tab)Aaron Rodgers, QB. 153 pass attempts this season. Via Dynasty CommandNeutral
- DK Metcalf: Not listed on Wednesday's injury report (opens in new tab)DK Metcalf, WR. 33 targets this season. Via Dynasty CommandPositive
- DK Metcalf: Expected to be ready for Week 1 (opens in new tab)DK Metcalf, WR. 33 targets this season. Via Dynasty CommandNeutral
- Aaron Rodgers: Won't play Thursday (opens in new tab)Aaron Rodgers, QB. 153 pass attempts this season. Via Dynasty CommandNegative
Around the Steelers
TEs like Darnell Washington
TE1Harold FanninBrowns12.6 PPGTE2Pat FreiermuthSteelers9.7 PPGTE3You are hereDarnell WashingtonSteelers6.7 PPGTE4Blake WhiteheartBrowns2.8 PPGTE5Robert TonyanSteelers0.3 PPGDarnell Washington News FAQ
What is the latest news on Darnell Washington?
The latest Washington update, from October 2: Washington posts season high in loss at Cleveland. Washington caught 3 of 5 targets for 27 yards and one touchdown in the 27–24 loss at Cleveland. That was 13% of the team's targets.
How does the latest Darnell Washington news affect his fantasy value?
Positively: he scored 11.7 fantasy points, a TE1 finish, 5.0 above his 6.7 average. See the updated fantasy outlook.
Darnell Washington Bio
Darnell Washington is a tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he wears No. 80. Born August 17, 2001, in Las Vegas, NV, he attended Desert Pines and played college football at Georgia.
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Washington in round 3, pick 93, of the 2023 NFL Draft.
In 54 regular-season games since 2023, he has caught 66 passes for 744 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Career Timeline
1 stop with 1 team in 4 seasons. Each block's width is the time he spent there.
What happened at each stop
Pittsburgh Steelers Current team2023–present
Selected in round 3, pick 93, of the 2023 NFL Draft. He was a starter, playing at least half the offensive snaps in 30 of 54 games.
College: Georgia
Transactions
- ContractAgreed to a four-year, $42 million contract extension with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- Placed on IRPlaced on injured reserve by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- SignedSigned with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
- DraftedSelected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in round 3, pick 93.
TEs like Darnell Washington
TE1Harold FanninBrowns12.6 PPGTE2Pat FreiermuthSteelers9.7 PPGTE3You are hereDarnell WashingtonSteelers6.7 PPGTE4Blake WhiteheartBrowns2.8 PPGTE5Robert TonyanSteelers0.3 PPGAbout Darnell Washington: Bio FAQ
How old is Darnell Washington?
Darnell Washington is 25 years old. He was born on August 17, 2001. 2026 is his 4th NFL season.
How tall is Darnell Washington?
Darnell Washington is 6 feet 7 inches tall (6'7"), listed at 264 pounds, and plays tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
How much does Darnell Washington weigh?
Darnell Washington weighs 264 pounds, his listed weight on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster. He is listed at 6'7".
What number does Darnell Washington wear?
Darnell Washington wears number 80 for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He plays tight end.
What position does Darnell Washington play?
Darnell Washington plays tight end for the Pittsburgh Steelers, wearing number 80. 2026 is his 4th season in the NFL.
What team does Darnell Washington play for?
Darnell Washington plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers as a tight end. He has been with the Steelers since 2023.
Where did Darnell Washington go to college?
Darnell Washington played college football at Georgia, after attending Desert Pines (NV). The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him out of Georgia in 2023.
When was Darnell Washington drafted?
The Pittsburgh Steelers selected Darnell Washington in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft with the 93rd overall pick, out of Georgia.
What round was Darnell Washington drafted in?
Darnell Washington was a third-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, taken 93rd overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
What pick was Darnell Washington in the NFL Draft?
Darnell Washington was the 93rd overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round.
Where is Darnell Washington from?
Darnell Washington went to high school in Nevada, at Desert Pines, before playing college football at Georgia.
When is Darnell Washington's birthday?
Darnell Washington's birthday is August 17. He was born on August 17, 2001 and is 25 years old.
How long has Darnell Washington been in the NFL?
2026 is Darnell Washington's 4th NFL season; he entered the league in 2023 as a third-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers. View his career statistics.
What teams has Darnell Washington played for?
Darnell Washington has played for the Pittsburgh Steelers. View his career statistics.
What year did Darnell Washington enter the NFL?
Darnell Washington entered the NFL in 2023, when the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him in the third round. 2026 is his 4th season.