Cole Kmet vs Darnell Washington: Who Should You Start?
The gap between Cole Kmet and Darnell Washington is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 0.4 PPG in 2025, this is one of those tight end decisions that comes down to context, not name recognition. Cole Kmet averaged 4.0 PPG with the Chicago Bears across 16 games, and Darnell Washington posted 3.6 with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 16.
When two tight ends are separated by less than two points per game, the decision shifts to weekly context. Who has the softer defense? Who is trending up over the last month? Which team is projected for more total points? Those are the tiebreakers that actually matter.
Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Cole Kmet had 30 catches for 347 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.
Cole Kmet has his bye in Week 7, 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.
