Who Should I Start? John Bates or Darnell Washington

Friday, December 20, 7:20 PM

Washington Commanders tight end John Bates could be in store for an increased role, with Zach Ertz (concussion) listed as questionable for Sunday's divisional matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. Ertz suffered this concussion last weekend and could not practice all week, which suggests he will face an uphill battle to pass the league's protocol. When filling in for Ertz last weekend, Bates brought in his lone target for six yards. Earlier this season, Bates caught six of his nine targets for 64 yards and averaged a solid 10.7 yards per reception. However, given his lack of offensive production, even in a reserve role, makes him a high-risk TE2 facing the Eagles. Fantasy managers should look for an alternative option as Bates will have a tough task ahead of him in his first start as the Eagles have allowed the fifth-fewest PPR points to the position this season.

Sunday, December 1, 12:36 AM

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Darnell Washington had only seven catches as a rookie. While the 23-year-old has been more productive during the 2024-25 campaign, he hasn't routinely been involved enough to warrant a spot in fantasy lineups. With that in mind, the Steelers have a favorable matchup against the Bengals in Week 13. However, that still won't make Washington a viable fantasy option in any format, especially with Pat Freiermuth available.