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Head to Head

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

Theo Johnson is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.0 PPG to Darnell Washington's 4.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Theo Johnson is the better fantasy play this season.

Theo Johnson is the better play on a neutral week. 7.0 PPG with 528 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 Theo Johnson 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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TEPittsburgh Steelers#38
Darnell Washington
PPG
4.5
Games
13
Rec
31
Rec Yds
364
Rec TDs
1
Targets
43
Bye
Week 9
TENew York Giants#24PPG LEADER
Theo Johnson
PPG
7.0
Games
15
Rec
45
Rec Yds
528
Rec TDs
5
Targets
74
Bye
Week 8

The Edge Chart

VolumeEfficiencyTD UpsideFloorCeilingDurability
Darnell Washington
Theo Johnson

Head to Head

4.5 PPG7.0 PPG
13 GP15 GP
Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Darnell Washington: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #38 at the position). Theo Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #24 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darnell Washington is producing at 20% of elite pace and Theo Johnson at 32%. That ranking gap means Theo Johnson carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darnell Washington vs Theo Johnson: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Darnell Washington and Theo Johnson for your lineup, you are not alone. Darnell Washington finished the 2025 season at 4.5 PPG for the Pittsburgh Steelers (13 games), and Theo Johnson averaged 7.0 for the New York Giants (15 games).

That 2.5-point weekly advantage for Theo Johnson is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. Darnell Washington had 31 catches for 364 yards; Theo Johnson posted 45 for 528. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

Darnell Washington has his bye in Week 9, and Theo Johnson rests in Week 8. 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

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. Theo Johnson (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

  • Theo Johnson outscored Darnell Washington by a projected 43 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
  • Theo Johnson played 15 games in 2025 compared to Darnell Washington's 13. That durability gap means Theo Johnson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
  • Theo Johnson scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
  • Theo Johnson saw 74 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 Theo Johnson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
StatDarnell WashingtonTheo Johnson
PPG (Half-PPR)4.57.0
Games Played1315
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)59105
Receptions3145
Rec/Game2.43.0
Receiving Yards364528
Rec Yds/Game28.035.2
Receiving TDs15
Targets4374
Target Share/Game3.34.9
Age2425
Experience2 yrs1 yrs
Bye WeekWeek 9Week 8

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Theo Johnson at 7.0 PPG, 2.5 points per game above Darnell Washington's 4.5. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Darnell Washington or Theo Johnson in fantasy football?

Based on 2025 season averages, Theo Johnson has the edge at 7.0 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 Darnell Washington and Theo Johnson average in 2025?

Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Theo Johnson averaged 7.0 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 2.5 points per game.

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

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

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

Theo Johnson outscored Darnell Washington by 2.5 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.