AJ Barner Fantasy Stats

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner is not a fantasy option in Week 3 against the Washington Commanders. Barner is not receiving enough volume in an offense that runs through wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Three targets in two games are not enough to move the needle for fantasy, despite Barner scoring a rushing touchdown in Week 2. The good news is that Barner has been on the field for at least 80% of the snaps in both games. Additionally, Smith-Njigba is unlikely to command a 44% target share for a full season. With quarterback Sam Darnold (glute) returning from injury this week, the passing attack stands to balance out to something closer to what it was in 2025. Even so, leave Barner on waivers until he displays more involvement in this passing offense.

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner is a TE2 in Week 2 at the Arizona Cardinals. Barner was a non-factor in Week 1, earning just two targets. Seattle's offense was out of sorts with backup quarterback Drew Lock having to step in early for an injured Sam Darnold (glute). Better days should be ahead for Barner, but it is difficult to trust the third-year tight end until we know how the pass catchers will be supported by Lock over the next couple of weeks. Week 2's matchup with Arizona does not present a huge challenge for Seattle's offense, so Barner could get loose in the red zone. However, deploying him in fantasy would be a very risky move. For now, leave Barner on your bench. If he demonstrates chemistry with Lock after a week of preparation, he could be worth considering in Week 3 and beyond.

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (oblique) caught two passes for 13 yards in Week 1 against the New England Patriots. Barner was kept in check all night, with the Seahawks' offense struggling to move the ball at times. Barner entered the season with a path to a serious breakout after scoring six touchdowns and finishing as the TE14 in 2025. That path still exists and should begin to unfold as the Seahawks' offense finds its footing. With quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) sidelined in Week 1, it is unclear who will be under center next week. However, quarterback Drew Lock is a capable backup, and he should not affect Barner's ability to produce. For now, Barner is still best viewed as a TE. He can still emerge as the season wears on, but we will need to monitor his usage, particularly in the red zone. Expect better production when Seattle visits Arizona in Week 2.

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner put together a strong camp, and he could be headed for a larger role during the 2026 season. Barner has impressed with 10 touchdowns over his two NFL seasons, and he finished last year as the overall TE14 in PPR leagues. He was able to maintain his fantasy relevance despite facing competition from Elijah Arroyo, who had second-round draft capital last year. This season, we expect Barner to get a similar amount of playing time, and that could actually lead to more volume. Now that he has established himself on offense for two years in a row, he should see his target share increase. Additionally, he should benefit from playing for new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury. Fleury was the tight ends coach in San Francisco, so he brings a strong background in the position to his new job with the Seahawks. In fact, it has already been reported by ESPN's Jeremy Fowler that Fleury plans to use a lot of two-tight-end sets in Seattle. That bodes well for Barner, who has a very strong chance to emerge as a top-12 fantasy tight end in Year 3.

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (oblique) is entering Year 3 entrenched as the No. 1 tight end option in the offense. He could be a solid play in Week 1 against the New England Patriots. Barner subtly broke out in 2025. He finished as the TE14 with 52 receptions for 519 yards and six touchdowns. While nothing elite, Barner seemed to steadily improve as the season wore on. Through seven games, Barner was averaging 3.14 targets per game. Following Seattle's Week 8 bye, that number crept up to 4.6. Barner remained a large part of the offense into the playoffs, suggesting that he could be a huge offensive piece as we enter the 2026 season. New England was middle-of-the-pack against tight ends in 2026. Week 1 games can be sloppy, and Barner could benefit as an outlet for quarterback Sam Darnold. If you punted on tight end in your draft, and you need a start, Barner is certainly an option you could turn to.

The Seattle Seahawks' new-look offense is expected to feature plenty of two tight end sets, which will result in a large role for both A.J. Barner and Elijah Arroyo, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. "Barner and Arroyo are going to be major parts of this offense," Fowler said. Seattle's offense is now led by coordinator Brian Fleury, who comes from the San Francisco coaching tree. Fleury has spent four years as the tight end coach with the Niners, leading an impressive unit headlined by superstar George Kittle. While we don't expect Kittle-caliber production from either Barner or Arroyo, it does sound like one or both tight ends will get on the fantasy radar. The incumbent starter is Barner, who had 52 catches, 519 yards, and six touchdowns last year. However, managers shouldn't sleep on Arroyo, comes with high draft capital after being a second-round pick in 2025. As it stands, Barner is RotoBaller's TE25, while Arroyo ranks as the TE47.

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner emerged as his team's top tight end in 2025, recording 52 catches for 519 yards and six touchdowns on 68 targets across 17 games. Despite his solid production, the presence of 2025 second-round tight end Elijah Arroyo in Seattle has led to speculation that Barner's role in the Seahawks' offense could fade in 2026. However, Barner has reportedly been one of the team's standout performers this summer, and he's already proven that he has established red-zone chemistry with Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold. If he can earn slightly more overall target volume in 2026, Barner could establish himself as a lower-end TE1 option for fantasy managers.

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner played through a lot last season and still put together a useful second year. He caught 52 of 68 targets for 519 yards and six touchdowns in 17 games, with five of those receiving scores coming from inside the 20. Barner needed two surgeries after the season, but he was back for the first practice of training camp and has looked good since. His August 7 practice stood out. Barner broke loose for a long catch-and-run touchdown off play action and added several more intermediate and deep catches from Sam Darnold. Seattle also has a new offensive coordinator in Brian Fleury, who came over after coaching tight ends and coordinating the run game in San Francisco. The tricky part is Elijah Arroyo. Seattle's 2025 second-round pick has had a strong summer himself and should get more chances after catching only 15 passes as a rookie. That could make Barner tough to trust every week. Still, he's healthy, coming off six receiving touchdowns, and has kept making plays in camp. RotoBaller ranks Barner TE29 and 218th overall in PPR, which leaves him worth considering late if you're waiting at tight end.

ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner is an "ascending" TE who "should come into his own in Year 3." Barner is finally healthy after multiple offseason surgeries, and new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury's scheme "should accelerate his progress." Fowler adds that Barner "can do a little bit of everything." The Seahawks will have two tight ends on the field "very, very often," according to Barner. The 24-year-old former fourth-rounder in 2024 from the University of Michigan took a step forward last year in his second season, catching 52 of 68 targets for 519 yards and six touchdowns in 17 regular-season games after posting a 30-245-4 line as a rookie. However, with second-year player Elijah Arroyo expected to be a much bigger part of Seattle's passing attack, Barner's fantasy value will likely come with a low ceiling as more of a touchdown-dependent TE2 streamer as long as Arroyo stays healthy. RotoBaller currently has Barner ranked as the No. 29 fantasy TE for the 2026 season, right behind Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton.

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner came through two offseason surgeries and opened camp on the field, so the health question has eased. The fantasy question has not. Barner started all 17 games last season and caught 52 of 68 targets for 519 yards and six touchdowns. Seattle also put him under center 10 times in short-yardage situations, producing nine first downs and another score. There is a useful role here, and the current depth chart still has him first. The concern is what happens between the 20s. Barner averaged only four targets per game, while second-year tight end Elijah Arroyo has been one of the early camp standouts. Brian Fleury's offense should keep both players involved, but more work for Arroyo may come directly out of Barner's receiving ceiling. RotoBaller has Barner at TE27 in PPR, and his current redraft ADP is TE26. That is a fair price, not a screaming value. Barner can help managers in deeper leagues and formats that start two tight ends. In ordinary 12-team leagues, he is better treated as a late option than a breakout target.