Start Darnell Washington or Evan Engram? Week 5

Our Week 5 call

Start Darnell Washington over Evan Engram in Week 5.

Market-based projections have Darnell Washington at 6.4 points and Evan Engram at 5.4, a gap of 1.0. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip.

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 (13, 14 and 13 market sources).

Player markets imply 5.4 fantasy points for Evan Engram, with 100 percent of the markets a TE needs posted.

The market has Evan Engram at 17.5 receiving yards and 2.5 receptions, with a 17% chance to score a touchdown (12, 15 and 14 market sources).

That puts Darnell Washington 1.0 points ahead of Evan Engram on the market projections.

Injury status

Darnell Washington is not on the injury report.

Evan Engram 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, Evan Engram played 60 percent of DEN snaps, drew 10 percent of the targets, earned 8 percent of the air yards and had 3 percent of the red zone chances.

Evan Engram, Week 1 against KC: 32 of 51 snaps, 5 targets and 4 catches for 43 yards, 1 touchdown.

Evan Engram, Week 2 against JAX: 32 of 62 snaps, 1 target and 1 catch for 17 yards.

Evan Engram, Week 3 against LAR: 40 of 67 snaps, 2 targets and 0 catches for 0 yards.

Evan Engram, Week 4 against SF: 44 of 65 snaps, 5 targets and 1 catch for 6 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, Evan Engram played 16 games for DEN and scored 102.8 PPR points, 6.4 a game, finishing TE29.

He caught 50 of 76 targets for 461 yards and 1 touchdown, with 10 red zone targets and 159 air yards.

He was on the field for 42 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 Evan Engram over Cole Kmet.
• Start Evan Engram over Dawson Knox.
• Start Evan Engram over Elijah Higgins.