Who Should I Start? Darnell Washington or Terrance Ferguson

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.

Thursday, October 9, 11:44 AM

Despite limited playing time early on in his rookie season, Los Angeles Rams tight end Terrance Ferguson has earned a more significant role in the team's offense. The University of Oregon product has had a slow start to the season after battling a groin injury in training camp. While he's only appeared on the field for eight total snaps across two contests, head coach Sean McVay has taken note of his development and intends to get him more involved in the offense. "We have to be able to figure out a way to be able to get him going," said McVay. "He's going to be a really good player for us, I believe. I thought he did an excellent job with the opportunity that he had [last week]." Ferguson is firmly fourth in LA's TE pecking order, but it wouldn't be surprising to see him pick up more playing time moving forward. It remains to be seen if he'll become a viable play in redraft leagues this season, but he's an excellent stash in dynasty formats.