Start Darnell Washington or Gunnar Helm? Week 5

Our Week 5 call

Start Darnell Washington over Gunnar Helm in Week 5.

Market-based projections have Darnell Washington at 6.5 points and Gunnar Helm at 5.5, 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 6.5 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 5.5 fantasy points for Gunnar Helm, with 100 percent of the markets a TE needs posted.

The market has Gunnar Helm at 19.5 receiving yards and 2.5 receptions, with a 15% chance to score a touchdown (10, 7 and 11 market sources).

That puts Darnell Washington 1.0 points ahead of Gunnar Helm on the market projections.

Injury status

Darnell Washington is not on the injury report.

Gunnar Helm 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, Gunnar Helm played 79 percent of TEN snaps, drew 11 percent of the targets, earned 6 percent of the air yards and had 8 percent of the red zone chances.

Gunnar Helm, Week 1 against NYJ: 38 of 50 snaps, 5 targets and 4 catches for 28 yards.

Gunnar Helm, Week 2 against PHI: 46 of 53 snaps, 2 targets and 2 catches for 13 yards.

Gunnar Helm, Week 3 against NYG: 49 of 60 snaps, 4 targets and 2 catches for 14 yards.

Gunnar Helm, Week 4 against BAL: 46 of 64 snaps, 1 target and 1 catch for 5 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, Gunnar Helm played 16 games for TEN and scored 91.7 PPR points, 5.7 a game, finishing TE31.

He caught 44 of 55 targets for 357 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 7 red zone targets and 198 air yards.

He was on the field for 53 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 AJ Barner over Gunnar Helm.
• Start Brock Bowers over Gunnar Helm.
• Start Cade Otton over Gunnar Helm.