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Head to Head

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Cade Otton vs Darnell WashingtonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Cade Otton is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 6.2 PPG to Darnell Washington's 4.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Cade Otton is the better fantasy play this season.

Cade Otton is the better play on a neutral week. 6.2 PPG with 572 yards gives a reliable baseline. Darnell Washington at 4.5 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Cade Otton higher, but do not fade Darnell Washington entirely.

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

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TETampa Bay Buccaneers#29PPG LEADER
Cade Otton
PPG
6.2
Games
15
Rec
59
Rec Yds
572
Rec TDs
1
Targets
81
Bye
Week 10
TEPittsburgh Steelers#38
Darnell Washington
PPG
4.5
Games
13
Rec
31
Rec Yds
364
Rec TDs
1
Targets
43
Bye
Week 9

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Cade Otton
Darnell Washington

Head to Head

6.2 PPG4.5 PPG
15 GP13 GP
Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Cade Otton: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #29 at the position). Darnell Washington: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #38 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Cade Otton is producing at 28% of elite pace and Darnell Washington at 20%. That ranking gap means Cade Otton carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Cade Otton vs Darnell Washington: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Cade Otton and Darnell Washington for your lineup, you are not alone. Cade Otton finished the 2025 season at 6.2 PPG for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (15 games), and Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 for the Pittsburgh Steelers (13 games).

That 1.7-point weekly advantage for Cade Otton is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Cade Otton is the volume tight end in this matchup with 59 receptions for 572 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 Cade Otton, but the floor gap is real.

Cade Otton has his bye in Week 10, and Darnell Washington rests in Week 9. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

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: Cade Otton (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value. Darnell Washington (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

  • Cade Otton outscored Darnell Washington by a projected 29 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Cade Otton played 15 games in 2025 compared to Darnell Washington's 13. That durability gap means Cade Otton contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Cade Otton scored 1 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.1 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
  • Cade Otton saw 81 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Cade Otton vs Darnell Washington: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatCade OttonDarnell Washington
PPG (Half-PPR)6.24.5
Games Played1513
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)9359
Receptions5931
Rec/Game3.92.4
Receiving Yards572364
Rec Yds/Game38.128.0
Receiving TDs11
Targets8143
Target Share/Game5.43.3
Age2724
Experience3 yrs2 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 10Week 9

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Cade Otton at 6.2 PPG, 1.7 points per game above Darnell Washington's 4.5. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Cade Otton or Darnell Washington in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Cade Otton has the edge at 6.2 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 Cade Otton and Darnell Washington average in 2025?

Cade Otton averaged 6.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 15 games in 2025. Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 1.7 points per game.

When are Cade Otton and Darnell Washington's bye weeks in 2026?

Cade Otton (TB) has a bye in Week 10, and Darnell Washington (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Cade Otton or Darnell Washington a better fantasy tight end in 2026?

Cade Otton outscored Darnell Washington by 1.7 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.

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