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Updated August 16, 2026 from live stats

Darnell Washington vs Noah FantWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

DraftCall Analytics

It is nearly a coin flip, but lean Darnell Washington over Noah Fant in 2026.

Darnell Washington (4.5 PPG) and Noah Fant (4.4) finished 2025 separated by under a point per game. Both play tight ends, so that per-game gap is the cleanest tiebreaker for a 2026 start or sit. Both land in Tier 4 at the position, so this is closer than the raw gap suggests.

The Bottom Line

Statistically, Darnell Washington and Noah Fant are interchangeable on a season-long basis. The 0.1-PPG gap is one broken play per game. For weekly start/sit calls, check opponent defense and recent form before defaulting to the name.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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TEPittsburgh Steelers#38PPG LEADER

Darnell Washington

PPG

4.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

364

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

TECincinnati Bengals#39

Noah Fant

PPG

4.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

288

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Darnell Washington

Noah Fant

Head to Head

4.5 PPG4.4 PPG

13 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Darnell Washington: Tier 4 (Deep League) TE (ranked #38 at the position). Noah Fant: Tier 4 (Deep League) TE (ranked #39 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darnell Washington is producing at 20% of elite pace and Noah Fant at 20%. These two are close enough in the rankings that weekly matchup should dictate your start.

Darnell Washington vs Noah Fant: The Full Breakdown

Darnell Washington (4.5 PPG) and Noah Fant (4.4 PPG) produced nearly identical fantasy numbers in 2025. When two tight ends are this close on a per-game basis, the weekly matchup matters more than the season-long resume. Darnell Washington played 13 games for the Pittsburgh Steelers; Noah Fant suited up 13 times for the Cincinnati Bengals.

A 0.1-point per-game gap over a full season is essentially noise. It means one extra catch, one fewer target, or a single broken play away from flipping the script. For a weekly start/sit call between these two, matchup analysis matters far more than the season line.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Darnell Washington had 31 catches for 364 yards; Noah Fant posted 34 for 288. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Darnell Washington sits Week 9 while Noah Fant is off Week 6. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Darnell Washington (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Noah Fant (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Darnell Washington outscored Noah Fant by a projected 2 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Noah Fant scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Darnell Washington saw 43 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Darnell Washington is 4 years younger than Noah Fant (24 vs 28), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darnell Washington vs Noah Fant: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darnell Washington	Noah Fant
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.5	4.4
Games Played	13	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	59	57
Receptions	31	34
Rec/Game	2.4	2.6
Receiving Yards	364	288
Rec Yds/Game	28.0	22.2
Receiving TDs	1	3
Targets	43	41
Target Share/Game	3.3	3.2
Age	24	28
Experience	2 yrs	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 6

Summary

4.5 PPG for Darnell Washington versus 4.4 for Noah Fant in 2025. The baseline favors Darnell Washington, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darnell Washington or Noah Fant in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Darnell Washington has the edge at 4.5 PPG compared to Noah Fant's 4.4 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 Noah Fant average in 2025?▾

Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Noah Fant averaged 4.4 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 0.1 points per game.

When are Darnell Washington and Noah Fant's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darnell Washington (PIT) has a bye in Week 9, and Noah Fant (CIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Darnell Washington or Noah Fant a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Darnell Washington outscored Noah Fant by 0.1 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.