Start Darnell Washington or Dawson Knox? Week 5

Our Week 5 call

Start Darnell Washington over Dawson Knox in Week 5.

Market-based projections have Darnell Washington at 6.4 points and Dawson Knox at 3.7, a gap of 2.8. Dawson Knox's number is scaled up from a partial market: not every stat the position needs is posted yet, so the rest is estimated from what is.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 6.4 fantasy points for Darnell Washington, with 100 percent of the markets a TE needs posted.

The market has Darnell Washington at 22.5 receiving yards and 2.5 receptions, with a 23% chance to score a touchdown (14, 13 and 13 market sources).

Player markets imply 3.7 fantasy points for Dawson Knox, with 70 percent of the markets a TE needs posted.

The market gives Dawson Knox a 14% chance to score a touchdown (13 market sources).

That puts Darnell Washington 2.8 points ahead of Dawson Knox on the market projections.

Injury status

Darnell Washington is not on the injury report.

Dawson Knox is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 5

Through Week 4, Darnell Washington played 66 percent of PIT snaps, drew 9 percent of the targets, earned 5 percent of the air yards and had 8 percent of the red zone chances.

Darnell Washington, Week 1 against ATL: 43 of 67 snaps, 2 targets and 2 catches for 18 yards.

Darnell Washington, Week 2 against NE: 37 of 70 snaps, 2 targets and 1 catch for 7 yards.

Darnell Washington, Week 3 against CIN: 47 of 62 snaps, 4 targets and 3 catches for 67 yards.

Darnell Washington, Week 4 against CLE: 51 of 72 snaps, 5 targets and 3 catches for 27 yards, 1 touchdown.

Through Week 4, Dawson Knox played 69 percent of BUF snaps, drew 5 percent of the targets, earned 1 percent of the air yards and had 5 percent of the red zone chances.

Dawson Knox, Week 1 against HOU: 39 of 58 snaps, 1 target and 1 catch for 7 yards.

Dawson Knox, Week 2 against DET: 56 of 74 snaps, 2 targets and 2 catches for 5 yards, 1 touchdown.

Dawson Knox, Week 3 against LAC: 46 of 66 snaps, 1 carry for 0 yards, 1 target and 1 catch for 5 yards.

Dawson Knox, Week 4 against NE: 36 of 59 snaps, 2 targets and 2 catches for 13 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Darnell Washington played 16 games for PIT and scored 73.4 PPR points, 4.6 a game, finishing TE39.

He caught 31 of 43 targets for 364 yards and 1 touchdown, with 8 red zone targets and 135 air yards.

He was on the field for 57 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

In 2025, Dawson Knox played 17 games for BUF and scored 103.7 PPR points, 6.1 a game, finishing TE28.

He caught 36 of 49 targets for 417 yards and 4 touchdowns, with 12 red zone targets and 234 air yards.

He was on the field for 61 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 5 calls

• Start AJ Barner over Darnell Washington.
• Start Cade Otton over Darnell Washington.
• Start Chig Okonkwo over Darnell Washington.
• Start Dawson Knox over Elijah Higgins.
• Start Evan Engram over Dawson Knox.
• Start Greg Dulcich over Dawson Knox.