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Dalton Schultz vs Darnell WashingtonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Dalton Schultz is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.0 PPG to Darnell Washington's 4.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Dalton Schultz is the better fantasy play this season.

Dalton Schultz is the better play on a neutral week. 8.0 PPG with 777 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 Dalton Schultz 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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TEHouston Texans#18PPG LEADER
Dalton Schultz
PPG
8.0
Games
17
Rec
82
Rec Yds
777
Rec TDs
3
Targets
106
Bye
Week 8
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
Dalton Schultz
Darnell Washington

Head to Head

8.0 PPG4.5 PPG
17 GP13 GP
Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Dalton Schultz: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #18 at the position). Darnell Washington: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #38 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Dalton Schultz is producing at 36% of elite pace and Darnell Washington at 20%. That ranking gap means Dalton Schultz carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Dalton Schultz vs Darnell Washington: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Dalton Schultz and Darnell Washington is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Houston Texans tight end put up 8.0 PPG in 2025 over 17 games; Darnell Washington of the Pittsburgh Steelers averaged 4.5 in 13. A 3.5-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 3.5 points favors Dalton Schultz, 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.

Dalton Schultz is the volume tight end in this matchup with 82 receptions for 777 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 Dalton Schultz, but the floor gap is real.

Dalton Schultz has his bye in Week 8, 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

Dalton Schultz 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: Dalton Schultz (age 29) 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?

  • Dalton Schultz outscored Darnell Washington by a projected 60 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Dalton Schultz played 17 games in 2025 compared to Darnell Washington's 13. That durability gap means Dalton Schultz contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Dalton Schultz scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
  • Dalton Schultz saw 106 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
  • Darnell Washington is 5 years younger than Dalton Schultz (24 vs 29), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Dalton Schultz vs Darnell Washington: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatDalton SchultzDarnell Washington
PPG (Half-PPR)8.04.5
Games Played1713
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)13659
Receptions8231
Rec/Game4.82.4
Receiving Yards777364
Rec Yds/Game45.728.0
Receiving TDs31
Targets10643
Target Share/Game6.23.3
Age2924
Experience7 yrs2 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 8Week 9

Summary

8.0 PPG for Dalton Schultz versus 4.5 for Darnell Washington in 2025. The baseline favors Dalton Schultz, 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 Dalton Schultz or Darnell Washington in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Dalton Schultz has the edge at 8.0 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 Dalton Schultz and Darnell Washington average in 2025?

Dalton Schultz averaged 8.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 3.5 points per game.

When are Dalton Schultz and Darnell Washington's bye weeks in 2026?

Dalton Schultz (HOU) has a bye in Week 8, and Darnell Washington (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Dalton Schultz or Darnell Washington a better fantasy tight end in 2026?

Dalton Schultz outscored Darnell Washington by 3.5 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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