Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darnell Washington vs Juwan JohnsonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Juwan Johnson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 8.3 PPG to Darnell Washington's 4.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Juwan Johnson is the better fantasy play this season.

Juwan Johnson has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.8-PPG advantage is real (8.3 to 4.5), and Juwan Johnson's 3 touchdowns show scoring upside. Darnell Washington is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

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TEPittsburgh Steelers#38

Darnell Washington

PPG

4.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

364

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

TENew Orleans Saints#17PPG LEADER

Juwan Johnson

PPG

8.3

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

889

Rec TDs

Targets

102

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Darnell Washington

Juwan Johnson

Head to Head

4.5 PPG8.3 PPG

13 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Darnell Washington: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #38 at the position). Juwan Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #17 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darnell Washington is producing at 20% of elite pace and Juwan Johnson at 38%. That ranking gap means Juwan Johnson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darnell Washington vs Juwan Johnson: The Full Breakdown

Darnell Washington and Juwan Johnson are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 PPG across 13 games with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Juwan Johnson posted 8.3 PPG in 17 appearances for the New Orleans Saints.

A 3.8-PPG gap gives Juwan Johnson the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Juwan Johnson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 77 receptions for 889 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 Juwan Johnson, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Darnell Washington sits Week 9 while Juwan Johnson is off Week 8. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Juwan Johnson at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Darnell Washington is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Darnell Washington (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Juwan Johnson (age 29) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Juwan Johnson outscored Darnell Washington by a projected 65 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Juwan Johnson played 17 games in 2025 compared to Darnell Washington's 13. That durability gap means Juwan Johnson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Juwan Johnson scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Juwan Johnson saw 102 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 Juwan Johnson (24 vs 29), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darnell Washington vs Juwan Johnson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darnell Washington	Juwan Johnson
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.5	8.3
Games Played	13	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	59	141
Receptions	31	77
Rec/Game	2.4	4.5
Receiving Yards	364	889
Rec Yds/Game	28.0	52.3
Receiving TDs	1	3
Targets	43	102
Target Share/Game	3.3	6.0
Age	24	29
Experience	2 yrs	5 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 8

Summary

Juwan Johnson outscored Darnell Washington by 3.8 PPG in 2025 (8.3 to 4.5). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darnell Washington or Juwan Johnson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Juwan Johnson has the edge at 8.3 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 Darnell Washington and Juwan Johnson average in 2025?▾

Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Juwan Johnson averaged 8.3 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.8 points per game.

When are Darnell Washington and Juwan Johnson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darnell Washington (PIT) has a bye in Week 9, and Juwan Johnson (NO) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Darnell Washington or Juwan Johnson a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Juwan Johnson outscored Darnell Washington by 3.8 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.