Darnell Washington vs Dawson Knox
Who should you start in Week 3? This week's matchups and projections.
Who to start in Week 3
This week is a coin flip. The model leans Dawson Knox by 0.4 projected points (5.6 vs 5.1), close enough that either call is defensible.
Dawson Knox faces LAC, the 4th-friendliest matchup a TE can draw this week. Darnell Washington faces CIN, the 14th-friendliest matchup a TE can draw this week.
Season-long, the model still ranks Darnell Washington ahead. This is a matchup call for Week 3, not a change of heart about the rest of the year.
This-week points are each player's projected per-game scoring rate adjusted for the matchup.
The season-long call
This one is a coin flip. The model leans Darnell Washington by 1.3 points of value over replacement (-92.0 vs -93.3), close enough that your roster build should break the tie.
The draft market hasn't priced this matchup yet, so treat it as a pure model call.
| Darnell WashingtonPIT | Dawson KnoxBUF | Edge | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 3 opponent | CIN | LAC | |
| Projected Week 3 points | 5.1 | 5.6 | Knox +0.4 pts |
| Matchup rank (TE vs defense, of 32) | #14 | #4 | |
| Projected 2026 points (PPR) | 86.4 | 85.2 | Washington +1.3 pts |
| Points per game | 5.1 | 5.0 | |
| Value over replacement (VBD) | -92.0 | -93.3 | Washington +1.3 |
| Overall rank | #182 | #185 | Washington by 3 |
| Position rank | TE26 | TE27 | |
| Market ADP | - | - | |
| Typical round (12-team) | - | - | |
| Bye week | 9 | 7 |
Should I start Darnell Washington or Dawson Knox in Week 3?
This week is a coin flip. The model leans Dawson Knox by 0.4 projected points (5.6 vs 5.1), close enough that either call is defensible.
Should I draft Darnell Washington or Dawson Knox in 2026 fantasy football?
Darnell Washington. He projects 86.4 fantasy points with -92.0 value over replacement, vs 85.2 points and -93.3 for Dawson Knox (TE, PPR). It's close enough to let roster needs decide.