Who Should I Start? Darnell Washington or Stone Smartt

Tuesday, September 30, 4:17 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington snagged all three of his targets for 20 yards in a 24-21 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The third-year pro was held without a catch through his first three games this season but emerged as the most productive tight end on the team in Week 4. In addition to his fantasy output, Washington saw the field for 48 of a possible 53 snaps, far exceeding the snap shares of Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith. At 6'7", Washington is incredibly effective as a blocker, and his utilization resulted in a successful day on the ground for running back Kenneth Gainwell. While Washington isn't likely to earn a significant role as a pass-catcher, it was promising to see him get on the same page as quarterback Aaron Rodgers last week. He remains off the fantasy radar for now, but Washington will be a name to monitor when Pittsburgh returns from its Week 5 bye.

Thursday, March 13, 4:21 PM

The New York Jets signed former Los Angeles Chargers tight end Stone Smartt to an undisclosed one-year deal on Thursday, a source tells NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Smartt was a restricted free agent this offseason but was not tendered by the Bolts, making him available to all teams. The 26-year-old former undrafted free agent came on strong late last year for L.A. and finished with career-highs in catches (16) and receiving yards (208) on 19 targets in 15 regular-season games (two starts), although he didn't find the end zone at all. Smartt could have an opportunity to build on his 2024 season in his new home in New York in 2025, as Tyler Conklin and Kenny Yeboah are currently unrestricted free agents. The only other TE on the Jets' current roster is Jeremy Ruckert. The Jets could still add to the position in free agency and the draft, but Smartt will be one to watch heading into training camp this summer.