DarnellWashington

News: 2 days agoWashington caught three of five targets for 94 yards during Sunday's 27-6 win over the Browns.

Spin: Washington led the team in receiving yards while finishing tied for second on the team in targets with wide receiver Germie Bernard. The tight end's biggest moment of the game came in the third quarter when he reeled in a short pass from Aaron Rodgers and took off for a 58-yard gain. Washington has corralled 19 of 28 targets for 254 yards and three touchdowns over eight contests to open the 2026 regular season.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Though he never quite made it onto the fantasy radar, Washington was one of the most fun, surprising "breakout" players of 2025. Essentially an extension of the offensive line at 6-foot-6, 264 pounds, Washington is known mainly for his blocking. Still, the 2023 third-round pick played well enough that he was stealing snaps and targets from both Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth. Washington never cleared six targets or 10.7 fantasy points in any game, but he was effective with the ball in his hands and averaged 8.5 yards per target. Though Smith has been released, Pittsburgh's offense is no longer being led by TE superfan Arthur Smith, which is likely to lead to a lesser role for Washington. Expect him to operate as a rarely targeted blocking complement to Freiermuth.