Who Should I Start? Darnell Washington or Luke Farrell

Tuesday, October 7, 7:41 PM

Despite finishing the game with just three catches for 20 yards, Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington was heavily involved in the Week 4 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Washington logged more snaps than any other Steelers tight end and was highly effective as a run-blocker, paving the way for running back Kenneth Gainwell's 99-yard rushing performance. According to head coach Mike Tomlin, Washington's increased utilization was by design. "You can't play 4-3 teams with 250-pound tight ends", Tomlin stated in a press conference on Tuesday. He also hinted that Washington could again see significant playing time in this week's divisional meeting with the Cleveland Browns, who boast a strong defensive front. The third-year pro isn't a fantasy option just yet, but if he continues to play ahead of Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith again on Sunday, it will be worth monitoring whether that usage starts to show up in the box score.

Tuesday, September 16, 12:19 PM

San Francisco 49ers tight end Luke Farrell drew the start in George Kittle's (hamstring) absence in Week 2. He caught two of his three targets for 15 yards and a touchdown in the team's 26-21 over the New Orleans Saints. Farrell may have had the start and the score on Sunday, but his 59% snap share paled compared to Tonges' 78% and was on par with his 58% share from Week 1. With Kittle on injured reserve for at least another three games, there is an opportunity for one of his stand-ins to step up. However, with an apparent timeshare in the works, it's anyone's guess as to who might stand out in Week 3, limiting the fantasy value of both Farrell and Tonges.