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AJ Barner
TE · SEA

AJ Barner

Position TE
Team SEA
Bye Week 11
PPR Rank #197

AJ Barner

NFL player. Position: TE. Team: SEA.

Quick Facts

  • Position: TE
  • Team: SEA (Seattle Seahawks)
  • College: Wake Forest
  • Bye week (2026): 11
  • FantasyPros PPR rank (pulled 2026-05-21): 197

2026 Outlook

Finished 2025 strong with 31 rec / 283 yards / 2 TDs over final 8 games, including Super Bowl-winning TD catch. Benefits significantly from Brian Fleury hire — Fleury coached George Kittle and Jake Tonges in SF, giving him elite TE development credentials. Barner's blocking prowess (loves to run-block) fits Fleury's system perfectly. Has athleticism and mentality to develop into top-tier TE under Fleury's tutelage (per 3 Players That Benefit the Most With Brian Fluery as Seahawks OC).

Barner is approaching a pivotal third season with the Seahawks as a potential breakout candidate. While his baseline is elite reliability and run-blocking, his inconsistency in receiving volume remains his main limitation—only had three games in 2025 with 50+ receiving yards. Fleury's appointment is a game-changer: as a former TE coach in SF where he coached George Kittle and Jake Tonges, Fleury is experienced at developing elite tight ends in unique ways and should find new opportunities to get Barner involved. Barner has expressed confidence with Fleury ("I feel really comfortable with coach Fleury calling plays"), signaling strong rapport for the system install. Under the new system, Barner has genuine upside to become one of the league's better TEs and land his first Pro Bowl selection. Experts list him as a sleeper TE1 candidate for 2026 (per 4 Fantasy Football Sneaky TE1 Contenders: Tight End Sleepers to Target (2026) - RotoBaller). Key goal is to be a reliable target for QB Sam Darnold, easing pressure on WR1 Jaxon Smith-Njigba (per Top 25 Seattle Seahawks Going into 2026 NFL Season: #25 AJ Barner).

Role / Depth Chart

Starting tight end for Seattle. Started all 17 games in 2025 and is one of the better run-blocking tight ends in the NFC. Second on the team in receptions (52) and third in receiving yards (519) in 2025 under Kubiak.

Injury Status

Recovering from shoulder and ankle surgeries after the Super Bowl; rehabbing during OTAs and expected ready for training camp in late July (per 2026 Fantasy Football: Justin Boone's top sleeper picks at TE). Barner himself expects to be "one of the best tight ends in the league" in 2026.

Recent News

Open Questions

(scoped to this player — pulled from Fantasy Football Open Questions)

Coaches shaping AJ's role

Mike MacdonaldHead CoachBrian FleuryOffensive CoordinatorJake PeetzOffensive Passing Game Coordinator/QuarterbacksKarl ScottDefensive Passing Game Coordinator/Defensive BacksJohn BentonSenior Offensive Assistant/Offensive LineMack BrownTight EndsMichael ByrneAssistant Tight EndsQuinshon OdomAssistant Offensive Line

What the Experts Are Saying

Fantasy Points Fantasy FootballThe NEXT George Kittle? 😱 | Stanford TE Sam Roush is an ELITE SLEEPER! | Film Vs. Analytics (2026)
Ron StewartYour Leaguemates Are Completely Ignoring These Coaching Changes
Flock FantasyEverything Just Changed - Week 13 Fantasy Football