Who Should I Start? Drew Sample or Darnell Washington

Saturday, September 27, 2:08 PM

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Drew Sample has only three catches this season, with one resulting in a trip to the end zone. The 29-year-old has logged more snaps than Mike Gesicki and Noah Fant (foot) through the first three weeks of the 2025 campaign. However, both have received more attention from quarterbacks Joe Burrow (toe) and Jake Browning. The Bengals offense is a mess, which has been a surprise to most. As a result, it's hard to trust anyone on that side of the ball. Granted, Sample should continue to lead the position in snaps, especially with his abilities as a blocker. Still, while he will likely add a few more scores to his resume before the end of the season, he's not consistent enough to be considered a starting fantasy option in any format in Week 4 versus the Broncos.

Tuesday, October 14, 9:07 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington came down with three of his five targets for 62 yards in a Week 6 victory against the Cleveland Browns. While it marked the second straight contest in which Washington led Pittsburgh's tight end room in snaps, it was his first time besting both Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth in targets this season. Given how well the Steelers have operated offensively lately, Washington should remain involved in a Week 7 divisional clash against the Cincinnati Bengals. He hasn't done quite enough yet to warrant consideration in fantasy lineups, but Washington is trending positively and will be a name to watch on Thursday night.