Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Darnell Washington vs Tyler ConklinWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Tyler Conklin is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.5 PPG to Darnell Washington's 4.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Tyler Conklin is the better fantasy play this season.

Tyler Conklin has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.0-PPG advantage is real (7.5 to 4.5), and Tyler Conklin'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 York Jets#99PPG LEADER

Tyler Conklin

PPG

7.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

525

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

Darnell Washington

Tyler Conklin

Head to Head

4.5 PPG7.5 PPG

13 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Darnell Washington: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #38 at the position). Tyler Conklin: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, Darnell Washington is producing at 20% of elite pace and Tyler Conklin at 34%. That ranking gap means Darnell Washington carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Darnell Washington vs Tyler Conklin: The Full Breakdown

Darnell Washington and Tyler Conklin 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 Tyler Conklin posted 7.5 PPG in 17 appearances for the New York Jets.

A 3.0-PPG gap gives Tyler Conklin 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.

Tyler Conklin is the volume tight end in this matchup with 50 receptions for 525 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 Tyler Conklin, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: Darnell Washington is off Week 9 and Tyler Conklin Week 12. 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

If you can acquire Tyler Conklin 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. Tyler Conklin (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Tyler Conklin outscored Darnell Washington by a projected 51 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Tyler Conklin played 17 games in 2025 compared to Darnell Washington's 13. That durability gap means Tyler Conklin contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Tyler Conklin scored 3 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.2 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Tyler Conklin saw 65 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 Tyler Conklin: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Darnell Washington	Tyler Conklin
PPG (Half-PPR)	4.5	7.5
Games Played	13	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	59	128
Receptions	31	50
Rec/Game	2.4	2.9
Receiving Yards	364	525
Rec Yds/Game	28.0	30.9
Receiving TDs	1	3
Targets	43	65
Target Share/Game	3.3	3.8
Age	24	-
Experience	2 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 12

Summary

Tyler Conklin outscored Darnell Washington by 3.0 PPG in 2025 (7.5 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 Tyler Conklin in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Tyler Conklin has the edge at 7.5 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 Tyler Conklin average in 2025?▾

Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 13 games in 2025. Tyler Conklin averaged 7.5 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.0 points per game.

When are Darnell Washington and Tyler Conklin's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Darnell Washington (PIT) has a bye in Week 9, and Tyler Conklin (NYJ) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Darnell Washington or Tyler Conklin a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Tyler Conklin outscored Darnell Washington by 3.0 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.