DarnellWashington

News: 12 hours agoWashington caught three of four targets for 67 yards during the Steelers' 30-27 win over the Bengals on Sunday.

Spin: Washington's three catches in Week 3 were as many as he accumulated through the first two games of the regular season. He was responsible for the Steelers' longest play late in the fourth quarter, when he took a short pass from Aaron Rodgers and broke multiple tackles for a 47-yard gain, leading to what was ultimately the game-winning field goal by Chris Boswell five plays later. Washington was on the field for 47 of the Steelers' 62 offensive snaps (75.8 percent), noticeably ahead of fellow starting tight end Pat Freiermuth (37). Washington will take a 6-92-0 receiving line (on eight targets) into Thursday's game against the Browns, whose defense ranks in the bottom-10 in yards allowed to tight ends this season.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Though he never quite made it onto the fantasy radar, Washington was one of the most fun, surprising "breakout" players of 2025. Essentially an extension of the offensive line at 6-foot-6, 264 pounds, Washington is known mainly for his blocking. Still, the 2023 third-round pick played well enough that he was stealing snaps and targets from both Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth. Washington never cleared six targets or 10.7 fantasy points in any game, but he was effective with the ball in his hands and averaged 8.5 yards per target. Though Smith has been released, Pittsburgh's offense is no longer being led by TE superfan Arthur Smith, which is likely to lead to a lesser role for Washington. Expect him to operate as a rarely targeted blocking complement to Freiermuth.