Washington
TE · PIT vs CLE
Proj pts
6.7pts
market
Gadsden
TE · LAC vs SEA
Proj pts
5.8pts
opportunity
Darnell Washington or Oronde Gadsden II: who should I start in Week 4?
Toss-up: lean Darnell Washington over Oronde Gadsden II by 0.9. Darnell Washington leads at 6.7. Oronde Gadsden II is the first one out, 0.9 short.
Highlights
Cons
- Low TE usage11% target share
- Thin volume3.3 targets/g
Cons
- Low team total17.8 team total
- Rotational role63% of snaps
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 consistency: Washington 51%, Gadsden 17%.
Latest game on the card: Gadsden 0 (PPR points).
Why Darnell Washington
Start 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: start 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: Projection (6.7 vs 5.8); Floor (3.0 vs 2.8); Implied team total (20.5 vs 17.8); Last 3 avg (5.1 vs 5.0); Consistency (51% vs 17%); Boom rate (25% vs 13%); Bust rate (25% vs 47%).
Why Oronde Gadsden II
Sit Oronde Gadsden II — projects 5.8, an even matchup vs SEA.
Oronde Gadsden II projects 5.8 points on a 2.8–10.0 range. The matchup grades as neutral against SEA. Usage: targets / game at 4.6. Net: bench Oronde Gadsden II this week.
Working against Gadsden: Low team total (17.8 team total), Rotational role (63% of snaps).
Where Gadsden leads the head-to-head: Ceiling (10.0 vs 9.1); Target share (14% vs 11%); Matchup grade (recency weighted) (B vs D+); Last 5 avg (6.3 vs 5.1); vs season (+0.8 vs +0.7); Targets / game (4.6 vs 3.3); Snap share (63% vs 60%); Red zone targets (15 vs 9); Touchdown dependence (14% vs 8%).
Recent form
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).
Oronde Gadsden II's last 5 games: PPR points 12.2, 4.3, 5.2, 9.8, 0 (oldest to newest).
Washington has already beaten Gadsden's 5.8 projection in 1 of his 3; Gadsden has beaten Washington's 6.7 in 2 of his 5.
At least 1 of these 5 games was played before the 2026 season.
Matchup
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.
Oronde Gadsden II (LAC) faces SEA, kickoff Sun, Oct 4, 4:25 PM ET. The matchup is rated neutral. Betting line: implied team total 17.8, spread +7.0.
What flips it
Washington's edge is 0.9 points (6.7 to 5.8). Gadsden's ceiling (10) clears Washington's projection, so a big game from Gadsden flips it. Washington's floor (3) sits under Gadsden's projection, so a quiet game from Washington 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)