Who Should I Start? Darnell Washington or Colston Loveland

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.

Monday, September 15, 5:23 PM

Chicago Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland was held without a catch in the team's 52-21 blowout loss to the Detroit Lions. It was another quiet outing for the rookie, as Detroit's defense (ranked No. 1 against tight ends in 2024) completely erased the tight ends from the Bears' passing game. The usage split continues to favor veteran Cole Kmet, who logged nearly a 90% snap share compared to Loveland's 53%. With such a limited role, Loveland remains unstartable in all fantasy formats for the time being. That said, the Bears invested premium draft capital in Loveland, and his athletic upside hasn't gone away. As Chicago's offense settles in and game scripts become more competitive later in the season, his opportunities should grow. For now, he's a bench stash with long-term upside and should not be available in deeper formats.