Head to Head

Updated June 5, 2026 from live stats

Darnell Washington vs George KittleWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

George Kittle is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.1 PPG to Darnell Washington's 4.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

George Kittle is the better fantasy play this season.

George Kittle is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 12.1 PPG and 625 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Darnell Washington (4.5 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster George Kittle as the starter and Darnell Washington as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TEPittsburgh Steelers#38

Darnell Washington

PPG

4.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

364

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

TESan Francisco 49ers#3PPG LEADER

George Kittle

PPG

12.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

628

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Darnell Washington

George Kittle

Head to Head

4.5 PPG12.1 PPG

13 GP11 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Darnell Washington: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #38 at the position). George Kittle: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #3 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darnell Washington is producing at 20% of elite pace and George Kittle at 55%. That ranking gap means George Kittle carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darnell Washington vs George Kittle: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two tight ends. George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers) averaged 12.1 PPG over 11 games in 2025, outscoring Darnell Washington (Pittsburgh Steelers, 4.5 PPG) by 7.6 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 7.6-PPG gap gives George Kittle the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

George Kittle is the volume tight end in this matchup with 57 receptions for 628 yards, while Darnell Washington profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 31 catches). In weeks where Darnell Washington finds the end zone he out-scores George Kittle, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Darnell Washington is off Week 9 and George Kittle Week 8. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire George Kittle at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Darnell Washington is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Darnell Washington (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. George Kittle (age 32) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•George Kittle outscored Darnell Washington by a projected 129 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Darnell Washington played 13 games in 2025 compared to George Kittle's 11. That durability gap means Darnell Washington contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•George Kittle scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•George Kittle saw 69 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Darnell Washington is 8 years younger than George Kittle (24 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darnell Washington vs George Kittle: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darnell Washington	George Kittle
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.5	12.1
Games Played	13	11
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	59	133
Receptions	31	57
Rec/Game	2.4	5.2
Receiving Yards	364	628
Rec Yds/Game	28.0	57.1
Receiving TDs	1	7
Targets	43	69
Target Share/Game	3.3	6.3
Age	24	32
Experience	2 yrs	8 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 8

Summary

George Kittle outscored Darnell Washington by 7.6 PPG in 2025 (12.1 to 4.5). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darnell Washington or George Kittle in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, George Kittle has the edge at 12.1 PPG compared to Darnell Washington's 4.5 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Darnell Washington and George Kittle average in 2025?▾

Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. George Kittle averaged 12.1 PPG over 11 games. That is a difference of 7.6 points per game.

When are Darnell Washington and George Kittle's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darnell Washington (PIT) has a bye in Week 9, and George Kittle (SF) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Darnell Washington or George Kittle a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

George Kittle outscored Darnell Washington by 7.6 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.