Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darnell Washington vs Tucker KraftWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Tucker Kraft is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.6 PPG to Darnell Washington's 4.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Tucker Kraft is the better fantasy play this season.

Tucker Kraft is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 12.6 PPG and 492 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Darnell Washington (4.5 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Tucker Kraft as the starter and Darnell Washington as depth.

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

TEGreen Bay Packers#2PPG LEADER

Tucker Kraft

PPG

12.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

489

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Darnell Washington

Tucker Kraft

Head to Head

4.5 PPG12.6 PPG

13 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Darnell Washington: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #38 at the position). Tucker Kraft: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #2 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darnell Washington is producing at 20% of elite pace and Tucker Kraft at 57%. That ranking gap means Tucker Kraft carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darnell Washington vs Tucker Kraft: The Full Breakdown

Tucker Kraft and Darnell Washington are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Green Bay Packers tight end averaged 12.6 PPG in 2025, a full 8.1 points per game ahead of Darnell Washington's 4.5 with the Pittsburgh Steelers. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

Tucker Kraft carries a 8.1-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; Tucker Kraft posted 32 for 489. 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 Tucker Kraft rests in Week 11. 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

If you can acquire Tucker Kraft 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. Tucker Kraft (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Tucker Kraft outscored Darnell Washington by a projected 138 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Darnell Washington played 13 games in 2025 compared to Tucker Kraft's 8. That durability gap means Darnell Washington contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Tucker Kraft scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Tucker Kraft saw 44 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 Tucker Kraft: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darnell Washington	Tucker Kraft
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.5	12.6
Games Played	13	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	59	101
Receptions	31	32
Rec/Game	2.4	4.0
Receiving Yards	364	489
Rec Yds/Game	28.0	61.1
Receiving TDs	1	6
Targets	43	44
Target Share/Game	3.3	5.5
Age	24	25
Experience	2 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Tucker Kraft holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.6 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 Tucker Kraft in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Tucker Kraft has the edge at 12.6 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 Tucker Kraft average in 2025?▾

Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Tucker Kraft averaged 12.6 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 8.1 points per game.

When are Darnell Washington and Tucker Kraft's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Darnell Washington or Tucker Kraft a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Tucker Kraft outscored Darnell Washington by 8.1 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.