Fant
TE · NO vs ATL
QuestionableProj pts
6.9pts
market
Washington
TE · PIT vs CLE
Proj pts
6.7pts
market
Darnell Washington or Noah Fant: who should I start in Week 4?
Toss-up: lean Noah Fant over Darnell Washington by 0.2. Noah Fant leads at 6.9. Darnell Washington is the first one out, 0.2 short.
Crowd: 35% of managers started Fant.
Availability & news
Noah FantQuestionable
Fant was limited in practice Thursday due to an abdominal injury.(rotowire, Oct 1, 2026)
Highlights
Pros
- Spike upside14.8 ceiling
Cons
- Low TE usage9% target share
- Thin volume3.2 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: Fant 24%, Washington 8%.
Fant (Questionable): “Fant was limited in practice Thursday due to an abdominal injury.” — RotoWire, Oct 1, 2026.
Why Noah Fant
Start Noah Fant — projects 6.9, a tough matchup vs ATL, with a rising role.
Noah Fant projects 6.9 points on a 1.6–14.8 range. The matchup grades as tough against ATL. Usage: targets / game at 3.2. Net: start Noah Fant this week.
Working for Fant: Spike upside (14.8 ceiling).
Working against Fant: Low TE usage (9% target share), Thin volume (3.2 targets/g).
Where Fant leads the head-to-head: Projection (6.9 vs 6.7); Ceiling (14.8 vs 9.1); Implied team total (25.8 vs 20.5); Last 3 avg (10.9 vs 5.1); Last 5 avg (10.9 vs 5.1); vs season (+6.2 vs +0.7); Boom rate (27% vs 25%); Touchdown dependence (24% 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: Floor (3.0 vs 1.6); Target share (11% vs 9%); Matchup grade (recency weighted) (D+ vs D-); Consistency (51% vs 40%); Bust rate (25% vs 27%); Targets / game (3.3 vs 3.2); Snap share (60% vs 40%); Red zone targets (9 vs 4).
Recent form
Noah Fant's last 3 games: PPR points 0, 13.3, 19.3 (low to high; the card does not say which came first).
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).
Fant has already beaten Washington's 6.7 projection in 2 of his 3; Washington has beaten Fant's 6.9 in 1 of his 3.
Matchup
Noah Fant (NO) faces ATL, kickoff Mon, Oct 5, 8:15 PM ET. The matchup is rated tough. Betting line: implied team total 25.8, spread -3.0.
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
Fant's edge is 0.2 points (6.9 to 6.7). Washington's ceiling (9.1) clears Fant's projection, so a big game from Washington flips it. Fant's floor (1.6) sits under Washington's projection, so a quiet game from Fant flips it too. Confidence in the call: lower.
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)