Who Should I Start? Cole Kmet or Darnell Washington

Friday, September 12, 11:25 PM

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet had a quiet season opener, catching just one of four targets for 31 yards in the 27-24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. His lone grab came on the final drive, a highlight-worthy one-handed diving catch over the middle. While rookie Colston Loveland has entered the rotation, Kmet still dominated usage, logging 90% of the snaps compared to Loveland's 56%, and handling 77% of one-tight-end sets versus Loveland's 23%. The volume and role remain encouraging, but the matchup is a major concern in Week 2. The Bears face a Detroit Lions defense that allowed the fewest fantasy points to tight ends in 2024. With a difficult opponent and a reduced ceiling due to Loveland's presence, Kmet is better left on fantasy benches this week.

Sunday, August 10, 1:09 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington made the most of his only target, scoring on a 19-yard pass from quarterback Mason Rudolph in a 31-25 preseason victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The third-year pro operated as the team's starting tight end on Saturday with Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith both inactive. His touchdown capped off the Steelers' opening drive and sparked what would become a strong offensive showcase for the rest of the contest. Although it's unclear exactly how Washington will be deployed this season, the 23-year-old has reportedly had an excellent camp and has been praised by starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He'll look to build on this performance next week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.