Helm
TE · TEN vs BAL
Proj pts
7.6pts
market
Washington
TE · PIT vs CLE
Proj pts
6.7pts
market
Darnell Washington or Gunnar Helm: who should I start in Week 4?
Toss-up: lean Gunnar Helm over Darnell Washington by 0.9. Gunnar Helm leads at 7.6. Darnell Washington is the first one out, 0.9 short.
Highlights
Cons
- Low TE usage11% target share
- Thin volume3.4 targets/g
Cons
- Low TE usage11% target share
- Thin volume3.3 targets/g
Some recent form, opportunity and matchup figures still lean on the 2025 season (not enough games played this season yet).
Week 4 · Updated Tue 29 Sep, 6:00 AM ET
The widest gap between them, in proportion, is touchdown dependence: Helm 13%, Washington 8%.
Latest game on the card: Helm 3.4 (PPR points).
Why Gunnar Helm
Start Gunnar Helm — projects 7.6, a tough matchup vs BAL.
Gunnar Helm projects 7.6 points on a 3.2–10.1 range. The matchup grades as tough against BAL. Usage: targets / game at 3.4. Net: start Gunnar Helm this week.
Working against Helm: Low TE usage (11% target share), Thin volume (3.4 targets/g).
Where Helm leads the head-to-head: Projection (7.6 vs 6.7); Floor (3.2 vs 3.0); Ceiling (10.1 vs 9.1); Targets / game (3.4 vs 3.3); Touchdown dependence (13% vs 8%).
Why Darnell Washington
Sit Darnell Washington — projects 6.7, a tough matchup vs CLE.
Darnell Washington projects 6.7 points on a 3.0–9.1 range. The matchup grades as tough against CLE. Usage: targets / game at 3.3. Net: bench Darnell Washington this week.
Working against Washington: Low TE usage (11% target share), Thin volume (3.3 targets/g).
Where Washington leads the head-to-head: Matchup grade (recency weighted) (D+ vs D); Implied team total (20.5 vs 16.0); Last 3 avg (5.1 vs 4.5); Last 5 avg (5.1 vs 3.5); vs season (+0.7 vs -2.5); Consistency (51% vs 34%); Boom rate (25% vs 19%); Bust rate (25% vs 31%); Snap share (60% vs 53%); Red zone targets (9 vs 8).
Recent form
Gunnar Helm's last 5 games: PPR points 2.9, 1.1, 6.8, 3.3, 3.4 (oldest to newest).
Darnell Washington's last 3 games: PPR points 1.7, 3.8, 9.7 (low to high; the card does not say which came first).
Helm has already beaten Washington's 6.7 projection in 1 of his 5; Washington has beaten Helm's 7.6 in 1 of his 3.
At least 1 of these 5 games was played before the 2026 season.
Matchup
Gunnar Helm (TEN) faces BAL, kickoff Sun, Oct 4, 1:00 PM ET. The matchup is rated tough. Betting line: implied team total 16.0, spread +11.5.
Darnell Washington (PIT) faces CLE, kickoff Thu, Oct 1, 8:15 PM ET. The matchup is rated tough. Betting line: implied team total 20.5, spread -2.5.
What flips it
Helm's edge is 0.9 points (7.6 to 6.7). Washington's ceiling (9.1) clears Helm's projection, so a big game from Washington flips it. Helm's floor (3.2) sits under Washington's projection, so a quiet game from Helm flips it too. Confidence in the call: moderate.
More start/sit comparisons from this week's PPR projections. Open a pair for the call and the reasoning.
This week's toughest calls
- Colston Loveland or Hunter Henry11.3 · 11.2
- Juwan Johnson or Tucker Kraft12.3 · 12.2
- AJ Barner or Hunter Henry11.2 · 11.2
- Isaiah Likely or Tucker Kraft12.2 · 12.2
- Brenton Strange or Colston Loveland11.4 · 11.3
- AJ Barner or Colston Loveland11.2 · 11.3
- More TE start/sit calls (tight ends this week)