AJ Barner Fantasy Stats

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner has struggled to shake loose this season. He does not project to do so in a Week 6 matchup with the Denver Broncos. This is a plus-matchup for tight ends given that the Broncos are No. 21 against opposing tight ends in fantasy. However, Barner is not receiving enough volume to merit fantasy consideration. Week 5 marked just the second time this season that Barner recorded at least five targets. Both of Barner's five-plus target games have come when quarterback Sam Darnold was forced to air the ball out consistently. The Broncos are entering this game with a struggling offense against a strong Seahawks defense. As such, Seattle's total passing volume should be low, especially if the team is able to get its ground game going against a weak Broncos rushing defense. Barner will have a spike game or two throughout the season, but this does not project to be one of them.

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner is off the streaming radar in Week 5 against the San Francisco 49ers. Barner is simply not receiving enough volume in this offense to trust in fantasy this season. Not to mention, the 49ers are No. 5 against opposing tight ends in fantasy this season. This is a tough matchup for the Seahawks offense overall. San Francisco has more or less shut down most of the offenses they have played this season. Your best bet for fantasy value from Barner is a tush-push goal line carry, given the Seahawks' struggles with conventional goal line rushes this season. Otherwise, Barner has only surpassed three targets once this season. There does exist a world in which Seattle and San Francisco enter into a shootout. In that scenario, Barner would almost certainly see additional volume. In Week 3 when the offense was forced to score heavily, Barner earned nine targets. However, with Seattle's defense playing so well most of the time, it is better to err on the side of caution with Barner this week.

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner could be a potential streamer in a pinch in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers. With quarterback Sam Darnold back in the lineup in Week 3, Barner recorded five receptions on a whopping nine targets for 69 yards. While nine targets will not be prescriptive moving forward, Barner's involvement at the hands of Darnold was encouraging. Seattle does not project to be in many shootouts like the one they found themselves in in Week 3, but Barner has been an ascending player since the second half of the 2025 season. His ability after the catch makes him an intriguing player for fantasy. Additionally, he is a fantastic red zone threat. The Chargers are No. 15 against opposing tight ends in fantasy this season. Barner is not a must-start, but if you are struggling at tight end in a deep league, he is a potential option in Week 4.

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner had a relatively small role in the passing attack through the first two weeks of the season, but his volume shot up with quarterback Sam Darnold returning from injury in Week 3. During Sunday's loss, Barner exploded for nine targets, five catches, and 69 receiving yards. This was the second-highest target total of his career, suggesting that he's trending up with Darnold back in action. Barner may not get nine targets every week, but all signs point to him remaining on the fantasy radar as he continues to show off his rapport with Darnold. There's a case to be made that the 24-year-old is Darnold's second-favorite target, behind only Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Barner has low-end TE1 appeal heading into Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

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.