Start Michael Mayer or Darnell Washington? Week 6

Our Week 6 call

Start Michael Mayer over Darnell Washington in Week 6.

Market-based projections have Michael Mayer at 6.9 points and Darnell Washington at 5.9, 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 6.9 fantasy points for Michael Mayer, with 100 percent of the markets a TE needs posted.

The market-based projection for Michael Mayer is 28 receiving yards and 2-3 receptions, with a 22% chance to score a touchdown (8, 12 and 13 market sources).

Player markets imply 5.9 fantasy points for Darnell Washington, with 100 percent of the markets a TE needs posted.

The market-based projection for Darnell Washington is 21 receiving yards and 2-3 receptions, with a 19% chance to score a touchdown (13, 13 and 13 market sources).

That puts Michael Mayer 1.0 points ahead of Darnell Washington on the market projections.

Injury status

Michael Mayer is not on the injury report.

Darnell Washington is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 6

Through Week 5, Michael Mayer played 82 percent of LV snaps, drew 15 percent of the targets, earned 8 percent of the air yards and had 4 percent of the red zone chances.

Michael Mayer, Week 2 against LAC: 53 of 63 snaps, 4 targets and 3 catches for 23 yards.

Michael Mayer, Week 3 against NO: 61 of 70 snaps, 3 targets and 3 catches for 32 yards, 1 touchdown.

Michael Mayer, Week 4 against KC: 74 of 84 snaps, 10 targets and 8 catches for 82 yards.

Michael Mayer, Week 5 against NE: 39 of 60 snaps, 1 target and 1 catch for 2 yards.

Through Week 5, Darnell Washington played 65 percent of PIT snaps, drew 9 percent of the targets, earned 5 percent of the air yards and had 11 percent of the red zone chances.

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.

Darnell Washington, Week 5 against IND: 38 of 60 snaps, 3 targets and 2 catches for 12 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Michael Mayer played 13 games for LV and scored 73.8 PPR points, 5.7 a game, finishing TE38.

He caught 35 of 50 targets for 328 yards and 1 touchdown, with 6 red zone targets and 132 air yards.

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

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.

Their other Week 6 calls

• Start Michael Mayer over AJ Barner.
• Start Brenton Strange over Michael Mayer.
• Start Cade Otton over Michael Mayer.
• Start AJ Barner over Darnell Washington.
• Start Cade Otton over Darnell Washington.
• Start Chig Okonkwo over Darnell Washington.