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Why You Shouldn’t Give Up On The Darnell Washington Fantasy Breakout

Darnell Washington
Are you looking for a diamond in the rough in fantasy football at the tight end position? Here’s why you shouldn’t give up on Darnell Washington just yet. (Kareem Elgazzar-Imagn Images)

Why You Shouldn’t Give Up On The Darnell Washington Fantasy Breakout

There are really two strategies for fantasy football when it comes to the tight end position. Go spend a premium on the cream of the crop like Brock Bowers, OR go bargain hunting for $1/streaming cheese for diamonds in the rough. The real suckers are the ones who get burned from overpaying in the messy middle. If you’re a bargain shopper, maybe think about keeping tabs on Darnell Washington.

Some of you reading this probably don’t even know who Washington is. That’s okay. You’re not too late to join the party on this one. I was intentionally early, and now is the time where we start to see if this puppy pans out. The former Georgia product was my number one ranked tight end during the 2023 NFL Draft, and we’re about to find out if he ever becomes fruitful in fantasy football.

Washington, 23, checks in at 6-foot-5, 265, and is a total freak. He’s going to be on the field all the time as an extension of the offensive line. It’s a matter of whether we’re going to get any receiving production too. For a long time, Washington was Brock Bowers’ backup in college. I think a lot of people are now finally starting to understand there’s no shame in that. Now he’s Pat Freiermuth’s backup in the pros, and I’m just not 100% sure he won’t emerge as the guy.

Rodgers threw out a pretty lofty comp for Washington. Lewis really started to come into his own heading into his third NFL season. A couple of years after that, he posted 700 yards, ten touchdowns, and made the Pro Bowl. I just don’t think it’s impossible that Washington can replicate that. No disrespect to Freiermuth, but we know what he is. If Washington does have that wow lightbulb moment go off, it could net serious rewards in terms of fantasy, even if he’s in there primarily to block.

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