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Colston Loveland vs Darnell WashingtonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Colston Loveland is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.5 PPG to Darnell Washington's 4.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Colston Loveland is the better fantasy play this season.

Colston Loveland is the better play on a neutral week. 8.5 PPG with 711 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 Colston Loveland higher, but do not fade Darnell Washington entirely.

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

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TEChicago Bears#16PPG LEADER
Colston Loveland
PPG
8.5
Games
16
Rec
58
Rec Yds
713
Rec TDs
6
Targets
82
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
Colston Loveland
Darnell Washington

Head to Head

8.5 PPG4.5 PPG
16 GP13 GP
Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Colston Loveland: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #16 at the position). Darnell Washington: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #38 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Colston Loveland is producing at 39% of elite pace and Darnell Washington at 20%. That ranking gap means Colston Loveland carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Colston Loveland vs Darnell Washington: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Colston Loveland and Darnell Washington is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Chicago Bears tight end put up 8.5 PPG in 2025 over 16 games; Darnell Washington of the Pittsburgh Steelers averaged 4.5 in 13. A 4.0-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 4.0 points favors Colston Loveland, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one tight end to the other.

Colston Loveland is the volume tight end in this matchup with 58 receptions for 713 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 Colston Loveland, but the floor gap is real.

Colston Loveland 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

Colston Loveland is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Darnell Washington is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Colston Loveland (age 22) 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?

  • Colston Loveland outscored Darnell Washington by a projected 68 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Colston Loveland played 16 games in 2025 compared to Darnell Washington's 13. That durability gap means Colston Loveland contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Colston Loveland scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
  • Colston Loveland saw 82 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Colston Loveland vs Darnell Washington: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatColston LovelandDarnell Washington
PPG (Half-PPR)8.54.5
Games Played1613
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)13659
Receptions5831
Rec/Game3.62.4
Receiving Yards713364
Rec Yds/Game44.628.0
Receiving TDs61
Targets8243
Target Share/Game5.13.3
Age2224
Experience-2 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 10Week 9

Summary

8.5 PPG for Colston Loveland versus 4.5 for Darnell Washington in 2025. The baseline favors Colston Loveland, 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 Colston Loveland or Darnell Washington in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Colston Loveland has the edge at 8.5 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 Colston Loveland and Darnell Washington average in 2025?

Colston Loveland averaged 8.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 4.0 points per game.

When are Colston Loveland and Darnell Washington's bye weeks in 2026?

Colston Loveland (CHI) 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 Colston Loveland or Darnell Washington a better fantasy tight end in 2026?

Colston Loveland outscored Darnell Washington by 4.0 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.