Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darnell Washington vs Kyle PittsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Kyle Pitts is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 9.8 PPG to Darnell Washington's 4.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Kyle Pitts is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Kyle Pitts outscored Darnell Washington by 5.3 PPG in 2025 with 5 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Kyle Pitts is the clear pick. Darnell Washington profiles as a matchup-dependent tight end who can spike but lacks the consistent floor.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TEPittsburgh Steelers#38

Darnell Washington

PPG

4.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

364

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

TEAtlanta Falcons#6PPG LEADER

Kyle Pitts

PPG

9.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

928

Rec TDs

Targets

118

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Darnell Washington

Kyle Pitts

Head to Head

4.5 PPG9.8 PPG

13 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Darnell Washington: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #38 at the position). Kyle Pitts: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #6 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darnell Washington is producing at 20% of elite pace and Kyle Pitts at 45%. That ranking gap means Kyle Pitts carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darnell Washington vs Kyle Pitts: The Full Breakdown

Deciding between Darnell Washington and Kyle Pitts is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Pittsburgh Steelers tight end put up 4.5 PPG in 2025 over 13 games; Kyle Pitts of the Atlanta Falcons averaged 9.8 in 17. A 5.3-point margin that could shift on any given week.

The per-game difference of 5.3 points favors Kyle Pitts, 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.

Kyle Pitts is the volume tight end in this matchup with 88 receptions for 928 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 Kyle Pitts, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Darnell Washington is off Week 9 and Kyle Pitts Week 11. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Kyle Pitts 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: Darnell Washington (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Kyle Pitts (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Kyle Pitts outscored Darnell Washington by a projected 90 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kyle Pitts played 17 games in 2025 compared to Darnell Washington's 13. That durability gap means Kyle Pitts contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Kyle Pitts scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Kyle Pitts saw 118 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darnell Washington vs Kyle Pitts: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darnell Washington	Kyle Pitts
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.5	9.8
Games Played	13	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	59	167
Receptions	31	88
Rec/Game	2.4	5.2
Receiving Yards	364	928
Rec Yds/Game	28.0	54.6
Receiving TDs	1	5
Targets	43	118
Target Share/Game	3.3	6.9
Age	24	25
Experience	2 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 11

Summary

9.8 PPG for Kyle Pitts versus 4.5 for Darnell Washington in 2025. The baseline favors Kyle Pitts, 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 Darnell Washington or Kyle Pitts in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kyle Pitts has the edge at 9.8 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 Kyle Pitts average in 2025?▾

Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Kyle Pitts averaged 9.8 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.3 points per game.

When are Darnell Washington and Kyle Pitts's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darnell Washington (PIT) has a bye in Week 9, and Kyle Pitts (ATL) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Darnell Washington or Kyle Pitts a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Kyle Pitts outscored Darnell Washington by 5.3 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.