Darnell Washington vs Evan Engram: Who Should You Start?
The gap between Darnell Washington and Evan Engram is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 1.3 PPG in 2025, this is one of those tight end decisions that comes down to context, not name recognition. Darnell Washington averaged 3.6 PPG with the Pittsburgh Steelers across 16 games, and Evan Engram posted 4.9 with the Denver Broncos 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.
Evan Engram is the volume tight end in this matchup with 50 receptions for 461 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 Evan Engram, but the floor gap is real.
Darnell Washington has his bye in Week 9, and Evan Engram rests in Week 14. 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.
