Brenton Strange vs Darnell Washington: Who Should You Start?
Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Brenton Strange (Jacksonville Jaguars) finished the 2025 season averaging 7.9 fantasy points per game in 12 games. Darnell Washington (Pittsburgh Steelers) came in at 3.6 PPG over 16 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.
Brenton Strange carries a 4.3-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.
Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Brenton Strange had 46 catches for 540 yards; Darnell Washington posted 31 for 364. 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: Brenton Strange sits Week 12 while Darnell Washington is off Week 9. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
