Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Brenton Strange vs Darnell WashingtonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Brenton Strange is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.9 PPG to Darnell Washington's 4.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Brenton Strange is the better fantasy play this season.

Brenton Strange has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.4-PPG advantage is real (7.9 to 4.5), and Brenton Strange's 3 touchdowns show scoring upside. Darnell Washington is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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TEJacksonville Jaguars#19PPG LEADER

Brenton Strange

PPG

7.9

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

540

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

TEPittsburgh Steelers#38

Darnell Washington

PPG

4.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

364

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Brenton Strange

Darnell Washington

Head to Head

7.9 PPG4.5 PPG

12 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Brenton Strange: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #19 at the position). Darnell Washington: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #38 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Brenton Strange is producing at 36% of elite pace and Darnell Washington at 20%. That ranking gap means Brenton Strange carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Brenton Strange vs Darnell Washington: The Full Breakdown

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 4.5 PPG over 13 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Brenton Strange carries a 3.4-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 7 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.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Brenton Strange 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: Brenton Strange (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Darnell Washington (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Brenton Strange outscored Darnell Washington by a projected 58 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Darnell Washington played 13 games in 2025 compared to Brenton Strange's 12. That durability gap means Darnell Washington contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Brenton Strange scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Brenton Strange saw 60 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Brenton Strange vs Darnell Washington: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Brenton Strange	Darnell Washington
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.9	4.5
Games Played	12	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	95	59
Receptions	46	31
Rec/Game	3.8	2.4
Receiving Yards	540	364
Rec Yds/Game	45.0	28.0
Receiving TDs	3	1
Targets	60	43
Target Share/Game	5.0	3.3
Age	25	24
Experience	2 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 9

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Brenton Strange holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 7.9 points per game. Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Brenton Strange or Darnell Washington in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Brenton Strange has the edge at 7.9 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 Brenton Strange and Darnell Washington average in 2025?▾

Brenton Strange averaged 7.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 3.4 points per game.

When are Brenton Strange and Darnell Washington's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Brenton Strange (JAX) has a bye in Week 7, and Darnell Washington (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Brenton Strange or Darnell Washington a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Brenton Strange outscored Darnell Washington by 3.4 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.