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Seahawks Bring Tight End Nick Vannett Back
The Seattle Seahawks signed tight end Nick Vannett to an undisclosed deal on Friday, according to John Boyle of the team's official website. The Seahawks drafted Vannett in the third round (94th overall) in 2016 from Ohio State. The 33-year-old spent the first three years of his NFL career in Seattle before they traded him to the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2019 season. Since the trade, he has spent time with the Steelers, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, and Los Angeles Rams. In his 10 years in the NFL, the journeyman tight end has accumulated 108 receptions on 150 targets for 1,012 yards and nine touchdowns in 121 games played (54 starts). His most successful season came in 2018 with Seattle, when he caught 29 passes for 269 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games. If Vannett earns a spot on the 53-man roster for the regular season in 2026, he will most likely serve as a blocking TE and on special teams, making him avoidable in all fantasy leagues.
Source: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
Source: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
Elijah Arroyo an Intriguing Dynasty Buy-Low Candidate Ahead of 2026
A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo failed to carve out a significant role in his team's offense as a rookie. Across 13 games (four starts), the 23-year-old recorded 15 catches for 179 yards and one touchdown on 26 targets. Entering 2026, Arroyo once again projects to open the year behind AJ Barner on Seattle's tight end depth chart. However, Barner has averaged just 9.3 yards per reception for his career. Arroyo profiles as the superior athlete and carries more explosive upside, averaging 16.9 yards per catch and scoring seven touchdowns across 13 games in his final collegiate season at the University of Miami. If Arroyo can stay healthy and be more consistent as a blocker in his second NFL season, he could establish himself as a larger piece in the Seattle passing game going forward.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
AJ Barner's Scoring Role Gives Him Deep-League Sleeper Appeal
Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner turned a quiet rookie year into 52 catches for 519 yards and six touchdowns in 2025. He also scored on one of nine short-yardage carries, a small wrinkle Seattle could keep using near the goal line. Barner stayed on the field, playing 827 offensive snaps and starting every regular-season game while dealing with several injuries. Two offseason surgeries kept him out of spring practices, though he expects to be ready for training camp. That is the first thing to watch. Elijah Arroyo is the other. Seattle's 2025 second-round pick caught 15 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown in 13 games, and his receiving ability could cut into Barner's routes as he develops. Brian Fleury is now running the offense after previously coaching tight ends, so the position should remain involved. More involvement for Arroyo could be part of that, too. RotoBaller ranks Barner as the redraft TE27 and dynasty TE28. He is not a weekly starter yet, but the playing time and scoring role give him sneaky appeal in deeper redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Elijah Arroyo Poised for Larger Role in Year 2?
Although Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner is expected to lead all of the team's TEs again in 2026, second-year TE Elijah Arroyo is "poised for a much larger sophomore season," according to Justin Melo of Seahawks Wire. The Seahawks took Arroyo with the 50th overall pick in the second round last year out of the University of Miami. The 23-year-old was limited to just 13 regular-season games (four starts) due to injuries in 2025, but he still produced 15 catches for 179 yards and a touchdown on 26 targets as depth at the position. Seattle ran two tight-end sets on almost 30% of their offensive plays last year, but that was also with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak running the show. Kubiak is now the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Still, Barner and Arroyo should be on the field together a fair amount, opening the door for Arroyo to be more involved in his second season in the NFL as the Seahawks look to defend their title. Ultimately, whether Arroyo can stay healthy could determine whether he'll have a Year 2 breakout in Seattle. RotoBaller has him ranked as the No. 37 fantasy TE this year.
Source: Seahawks Wire - Justin Melo
Source: Seahawks Wire - Justin Melo
Elijah Arroyo Carries Stash Appeal for Dynasty Rebuilders
A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo finished his rookie season with just 15 receptions for 179 yards and one touchdown on 26 targets across 13 games (four starts). The 23-year-old spent the majority of the year behind Seahawks tight end AJ Barner on the team's depth chart at the position. Seattle also recorded the NFL's third-lowest pass rate as a team in 2025, which likely held down the fantasy production of all of its pass-catchers outside of star wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba. While Barner remains with the Seahawks entering 2026, Arroyo is a more explosive athlete and may be the higher-upside pass-catcher of the two. Seattle may also be forced to turn to the air a bit more in 2026, as the team was forced to rework its backfield over the offseason. For dynasty managers in the midst of a rebuild, buying low on Arroyo could be a move that pays dividends long-term.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Should Dynasty Managers Look to Sell High on AJ Barner?
Across 17 games in 2025, Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (undisclosed) recorded 52 catches for 519 yards and six touchdowns on 68 targets. The 24-year-old started all 17 games for Seattle and emerged as a key red zone target for Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, finishing second on the team in touchdown catches behind only superstar wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba. However, there may be reason to believe that Barner's production will regress in 2026. For one, the tight end underwent two different undisclosed offseason surgeries that kept him from participating in OTAs. Secondly, Barner averaged just four targets per game in his breakout campaign a season ago and could see his target volume fall even further if the Seahawks choose to feature 2025 second-round tight end Elijah Arroyo more heavily this season. In dynasty formats, managers may want to explore selling high on Barner.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Elijah Arroyo Worth Buying Low on in Dynasty Formats?
A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo recorded just 15 catches for 179 yards and a touchdown on 26 targets across 13 games as a rookie. Arroyo flashed upside as a pass-catcher, but his path to playing time was largely blocked by fellow Seahawks tight end AJ Barner. Entering 2026, Barner remains in place as the nominal TE1 in Seattle, and veteran tight end Eric Saubert will likely continue to play a role in the offense as a blocker. However, Arroyo recorded 590 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in his final collegiate season at Miami and remains the highest-ceiling receiving tight end in Seattle. The Seahawks may also be forced to throw the ball a bit more in 2026 after finishing the 2025 season with the fourth-fewest pass attempts (481) in the NFL, which would open up more opportunities for all of the team's pass-catchers. Arroyo's profile carries risk, but he could be a worthy buy-low candidate for dynasty managers after his underwhelming rookie campaign.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
AJ Barner Expected to be Ready for Training Camp
Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (undisclosed) hasn't taken part in on-field workouts during the offseason program after having two undisclosed surgeries, but he's "feeling good" and is expected to be back on the field for training camp this summer, according to John Boyle of the team's official website. The 24-year-old was on the weekly injury report for Seattle regularly late last season, being listed with hip, elbow, shoulder, knee, ankle, and calf injuries. He still made 20 starts, including the postseason, and he finished with 52 receptions (68 targets) for 519 yards and six touchdowns in 17 regular-season starts in his second year in the NFL. "I'm going to feel much better, and I'm already feeling much better, and I think that's where I'll see strides," Barner said. "I'm feeling good, and I'm chomping at the bit trying to get back out there." The third-year TE should remain a threat in the red zone for the defending Super Bowl champs in 2026, but the expected emergence of Elijah Arroyo will certainly cap his fantasy ceiling in 2026. RotoBaller has Barner ranked as the No. 27 fantasy TE going into the upcoming season.
Source: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
Source: Seahawks.com - John Boyle
AJ Barner Undergoes Offseason Procedures, Not Taking Part in OTAs
Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (undisclosed) was not taking part in the team's OTA practice on Wednesday while recovering from undisclosed offseason procedures, head coach Mike MacDonald told Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. Barner started all 17 regular-season games in 2025 in his second year in the league, although he did battle through some ankle and shoulder injuries along the way to catch 52 of his 68 targets for 519 yards and six touchdowns. The 24-year-old former fourth-rounder in 2024 out of Michigan finished as the TE14 in half-PPR formats. He should be ready by the time training camp rolls around at the end of July, but Barner is no sure thing to repeat or exceed his numbers from his sophomore campaign with Elijah Arroyo still in the fold and reportedly taking a step forward in his development. If Arroyo earns more targets, as is expected, Barner could take a step back in Year 3. Barner is considered an offseason faller and has dropped to No. 28 in RotoBaller's fantasy TE rankings for the 2026 season.
Source: The Seattle Times - Bob Condotta
Source: The Seattle Times - Bob Condotta
AJ Barner Enters 2026 as a Dynasty Sell-High Candidate
Across 17 games in 2025, Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner recorded 52 receptions for 519 yards and six touchdowns on 68 targets. The 24-year-old also recorded 10 carries and scored a touchdown with his legs, as the Seahawks frequently lined him up under center to operate quarterback sneaks. While Barner should continue to play a role in the Seattle offense in 2026, there's reason to believe his fantasy value may have peaked in 2025. Even in a relative breakout year, Barner averaged just four targets per game. He doesn't bring much explosiveness down the field either, as he's averaged 9.3 yards per catch on 82 career receptions. Finally, Seattle may look to shift more of its receiving work in 2026 to second-year tight end Elijah Arroyo, whom the team selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft. In dynasty formats, managers may want to consider cashing in their Barner stock ahead of the 2026 season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Will Elijah Arroyo Continue to Have Trouble Getting on the Field?
Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo remains the No. 2 option on the depth chart, which could be good news or bad news. It's encouraging in the sense that the Seahawks didn't draft a rookie tight end, because that could have bumped Arroyo down to the third spot. On the other hand, even as the league shifts to more 12 personnel packages, the Seahawks may continue to use just one tight end (A.J. Barner). Seattle's new offensive coordinator, Brian Fleury, was the tight ends coach with the 49ers last year. In 2025, the 49ers ran 12 personnel on just 11.46% of their plays. That ranked seventh-lowest in the NFL, and it was approximately half the league average rate. If Fleury, despite his background coaching tight end, carries that same philosophy from San Francisco to Seattle, Arroyo could have trouble earning consistent playing time when Barner is healthy. He ranks as the TE28 in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings, but it's hard to envision him being a reliable fantasy option as early as 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
