Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darnell Washington vs Pat FreiermuthWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Pat Freiermuth is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 6.2 PPG to Darnell Washington's 4.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Pat Freiermuth is the better fantasy play this season.

Pat Freiermuth has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 1.7-PPG advantage is real (6.2 to 4.5), and Pat Freiermuth's 4 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.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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TEPittsburgh Steelers#38

Darnell Washington

PPG

4.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

364

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

TEPittsburgh Steelers#28PPG LEADER

Pat Freiermuth

PPG

6.2

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

486

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Darnell Washington

Pat Freiermuth

Head to Head

4.5 PPG6.2 PPG

13 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Darnell Washington: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #38 at the position). Pat Freiermuth: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #28 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darnell Washington is producing at 20% of elite pace and Pat Freiermuth at 28%. That ranking gap means Pat Freiermuth carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darnell Washington vs Pat Freiermuth: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Darnell Washington (Pittsburgh Steelers) finished the 2025 season averaging 4.5 fantasy points per game in 13 games. Pat Freiermuth (Pittsburgh Steelers) came in at 6.2 PPG over 15 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Pat Freiermuth carries a 1.7-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Darnell Washington had 31 catches for 364 yards; Pat Freiermuth posted 41 for 486. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 9 bye. That means you need a backup plan at tight end for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Darnell Washington (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Pat Freiermuth (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Pat Freiermuth outscored Darnell Washington by a projected 29 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Pat Freiermuth played 15 games in 2025 compared to Darnell Washington's 13. That durability gap means Pat Freiermuth contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Pat Freiermuth scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Pat Freiermuth saw 54 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Both players share a Week 9 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Darnell Washington vs Pat Freiermuth: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darnell Washington	Pat Freiermuth
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.5	6.2
Games Played	13	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	59	93
Receptions	31	41
Rec/Game	2.4	2.7
Receiving Yards	364	486
Rec Yds/Game	28.0	32.4
Receiving TDs	1	4
Targets	43	54
Target Share/Game	3.3	3.6
Age	24	27
Experience	2 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 9

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Pat Freiermuth holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 6.2 points per game. Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darnell Washington or Pat Freiermuth in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Pat Freiermuth has the edge at 6.2 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 Pat Freiermuth average in 2025?▾

Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Pat Freiermuth averaged 6.2 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 1.7 points per game.

Do Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth share a Week 9 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at tight end for that week.

Is Darnell Washington or Pat Freiermuth a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Pat Freiermuth outscored Darnell Washington by 1.7 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.