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Darnell Washington’s Week 4 touchdown is worth noticing, but it does not establish a new fantasy role. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2026 season split lists him with 9 receptions, 119 yards and 1 touchdown through Week 4. For now, treat him as a player to monitor—not a standard-league must-start—and look for sustained receiving opportunity before changing that view.
What the Week 4 touchdown changes—and what it doesn’t
Washington had no touchdowns in Pittsburgh’s first three games of 2026. He recorded 2 catches for 18 yards, 1 for 7, and 3 for 67; in Week 4, he caught 3 passes for 27 yards and scored. The Steelers’ season split totals those results at 9 catches, 119 yards and 1 touchdown, with a 13.22-yard average.
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The score adds to his fantasy production, but one scoring play does not show that his opportunities have grown. It is a signal to check his usage in subsequent games, not proof of a breakout. The Steelers’ 2026 statistics provide the current season split. NFL.com’s game log corroborates the game-by-game line; its summary and career pages surfaced with a Week 3 cutoff, so use the Steelers split for the through-Week-4 total.
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How his receiving history shapes the outlook
Washington’s regular-season receiving totals have risen each year, but his scoring has remained modest. The Steelers player profile lists:
#1 Best Overall
| Season | Receptions | Receiving yards | Receiving touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 7 | 61 | 0 |
| 2024 | 19 | 200 | 1 |
| 2025 | 31 | 364 | 1 |
The 2025 increase is evidence of growing involvement, not yet of dependable weekly volume. Washington caught 31 passes and scored once over 16 games. That baseline makes it unwise to project a steady stream of touchdowns from a single score in 2026.
Why Pittsburgh may value him more than fantasy managers do
Washington’s football contribution is not limited to catches. In its June 4, 2026 contract announcement, Pittsburgh emphasized his blocking and role in the tush-push. Those duties can make him useful to the team without producing the targets and receptions fantasy managers need.
Rank #2
That distinction matters: a prominent role in the offense does not automatically mean a prominent receiving role. The team’s praise is not evidence that Washington has taken over the Steelers’ tight end targets.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsHow he compares with Pat Freiermuth
FanDuel Research’s 2025 comparison shows that fellow Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth had more receiving opportunity and production across the listed categories:
| 2025 receiving stat | Darnell Washington | Pat Freiermuth |
|---|---|---|
| Targets | 43 | 54 |
| Receptions | 31 | 41 |
| Receiving yards | 364 | 486 |
| Touchdowns | 1 | 4 |
| Red-zone targets | 8 | 9 |
These are historical figures, not a forecast of the 2026 depth chart or target split. They do show that Washington trailed Freiermuth in targets, catches, yards and touchdowns in 2025. FanDuel Research also reports a numberFire projection of 51.9 fantasy points and a tight end rank of 28 for Washington in 2026; that is a projection, not a result or guarantee.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to watch before adding or starting him
Evaluate Washington against the other tight ends available in your league rather than reacting to the touchdown alone. The most useful evidence is whether his receiving work persists over multiple games.
- Targets and catches: Look for a repeatable increase, not a one-game spike.
- Receiving involvement: Track routes or snaps if reliable current data is available. The cited sources do not establish his current route share or snap share.
- Red-zone opportunities: A touchdown is more useful as a trend if accompanied by continued chances near the goal line.
- Competition: Account for Freiermuth and other teammates who may command targets.
- Scoring dependence: If his value relies on another touchdown without more catches or targets, expect greater week-to-week volatility.
In a standard season-long league, the available evidence does not support treating Washington as a must-start. He is more plausible as a watch-list option or a deep-league consideration, especially if later games show a lasting rise in targets and receiving production. In a TE-premium format, receptions can carry more value, but the same question remains: is the opportunity increasing consistently?
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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →There is not enough information here to make a categorical start recommendation for every league. Your scoring settings, roster depth and available alternatives matter; compare recent opportunity and role, not touchdown totals alone.
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