Dynasty Rookie Draft Profile: Darnell Washington (2023 Fantasy Football)

To help you prepare for your dynasty rookie and startup drafts, Derek Brown is putting together a dynasty rookie outlook for each and every fantasy-relevant 2023 NFL Draft prospect. We are combining DBro’s fantasy outlook with the NFL Draft profile of Matthew Jones. Here’s our dynasty rookie draft profile for Darnell Washington.

Expert Consensus 2023 Dynasty Superflex Rookie Draft Rankings: Top-50

Dynasty Rookie Draft Profile: Darnell Washington

Darnell Washington Dynasty Rookie Draft Outlook

Washington is a nasty customer in run-blocking. With his size and physicality, he can manhandle incoming tacklers. He was lined up in the backfield and utilized as a lead blocker plenty of times. Washington’s towering build (6’7″) can allow him to be chopped down, but he displays surprising bend. While Washington might never be a high-volume target in the NFL, his height will make him an automatic weapon in the red zone. His catch radius is massive, and his body control (especially considering his size) is eye-opening when paired with his pair of soft hands. He can adjust quite well to low passes and poorly thrown balls. Washington looks lumbering in the open field with build-up speed that can get stopped in its tracks if he’s contacted early after the reception. If you allow him to build up steam, he can swat incoming tacklers like pesky gnats.

– Derek Brown

Check out all of our 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles

Darnell Washington 2023 NFL Draft Outlook

Washington has a ton of potential because of his frame and his surprising athleticism but was never really able to leverage those gifts to dominate opponents as either a receiver or blocker. Whoever drafts him is going to have to be patient, working with him to clean up his technique as a blocker and diversifying his route tree in the passing game. He looked like more of a mid-rounder on tape but appears destined to go considerably higher.

– Matthew Jones

Projection: Round 2-3

Check out the full 2023 NFL Draft profile for Darnell Washington here