RADIO
AJ Barner Outside Starting Realm Despite Plus Matchup
Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner is not a starting option in Week 9 against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals have been one of the worst defenses in the league all season, and they are No. 24 against opposing tight ends in fantasy. However, Barner is not receiving enough volume in this offense to be a viable fantasy option. Darnold did score a rushing touchdown against Arizona when they first met in Week 2, but he only received one reception. Even in Week 8 when quarterback Sam Darnold (quadriceps) aired it out 34 times, Barner only racked up two receptions. He is consistently scoring in the single-digits in fantasy due to the lack of volume. Barner was viewed as a potential breakout candidate entering the season, but it has become apparent that new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury is not keen on using Barner the same way former offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak did. Leave Barner on waivers until the Seahawks demonstrate more of a desire to use him.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
AJ Barner Barely a TE2 in Week 8
Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner is not on the fantasy radar in Week 8 against the Chicago Bears. The Bears are No. 17 against opposing tight ends in fantasy, but Barner does not receive enough consistent volume to be a predictable fantasy asset. However, if you are in absolutely dire straits at tight end in a deep league, there is a chance Barner receives an extra look or two due to the absence of wide receiver Rashid Shaheed (knee) this week. Quarterback Sam Darnold could look his way in more third-down situations and short-yardage, but he would be a risky play. With wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba receiving the bulk of targets in the offense, there is little room for anyone else in fantasy. Barner plays his role within the offense very well, but that role is difficult to trust in fantasy. He should be left on waivers unless you have no other options and are counting on a potential touchdown.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
AJ Barner Ranked Outside the Top 25 Tight Ends in Week 7
Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner is not a top 25 fantasy option in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Although the Chiefs have been solid against most positions in fantasy this season, they are 29th against tight ends, allowing 16.08 fantasy points per game. As such, if you need a desperation start and want to play matchups, Barner is a potential sleeper. However, Barner continues to see very little volume in this offense. There does exist a world in which the Seahawks attack the Chiefs' weakness and use Barner more. His run-after-catch ability is something to exploit in this game. Still, Barner has exceeded four targets only twice this season. He has also only recorded more than three catches in one game. Unless he finds the end zone (which he has only done once), those types of numbers will not get it done for fantasy. Even with the good matchup, there are likely better options on the waiver wire. Leave Barner on waivers unless you are in a very deep league.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Elijah Arroyo Having Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery
Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (shoulder) is having season-ending surgery on Thursday, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Seahawks were expecting Arroyo to miss an extended amount of time, but the entire season is the worst-case scenario. The 23-year-old will finish his second year in the NFL with just one catch on two targets for 17 yards in six games played after posting a 15-179-1 line on 26 targets through 13 regular-season games (four starts) as a rookie in 2025. Arroyo injured his shoulder in last Thursday night's overtime loss to the Denver Broncos. His absence for the rest of the season will definitely raise teammate AJ Barner's fantasy ceiling as a TE2. The 24-year-old Barner, a former fourth-rounder in 2024 from Michigan, has yet to score this year through six weeks and has 15 catches on 24 targets for 138 yards. He had a career year in 2025 with 52 receptions, 519 yards, and six receiving touchdowns in 17 starts.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Elijah Arroyo Likely Headed to Injured Reserve With Shoulder Injury
Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (shoulder) is most likely headed to Injured Reserve with a shoulder injury that he suffered in last Thursday night's loss to the Denver Broncos, which would put him out for at least four weeks, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. As a result, the Seahawks have signed Josiah Deguara to add depth at the position behind AJ Barner. The 23-year-old was not on the fantasy football radar to begin with, given his small role on offense through the first six games of the 2026 season behind Barner. In six games, Arroyo has caught just one of his two targets for 17 yards. The former second-rounder in 2025 from Miami caught 15 passes on 26 targets for 179 yards and one touchdown in 13 regular-season games (four starts) last year as a rookie in Seattle. Arroyo's shoulder injury will definitely make Barner more interesting as a TE streamer in fantasy for at least the next four weeks.
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Source: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
Elijah Arroyo Doubtful to Return on Thursday Night with Shoulder Injury
Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo (shoulder) is doubtful to return to his team's Week 6 matchup against the Denver Broncos on Thursday due to a shoulder injury, per Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune. Arroyo did not record a catch or a target before exiting the game. The second-year tight end has seen minimal usage in his team's offense so far this season, recording one catch for 17 yards on two targets across five games coming into Week 6. If Arroyo is unable to return on Thursday, Seahawks TE1 AJ Barner could see a few additional opportunities to contribute against Denver.
Source: Tacoma News Tribune - Gregg Bell
Source: Tacoma News Tribune - Gregg Bell
AJ Barner off the Fantasy Radar in Week 6
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.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Elijah Arroyo Operating as a True Backup in Second Pro Season
Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo remains buried in the No. 2 role on the depth chart through the first four weeks of the season (and counting). Arroyo was a mid-second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but his role so far has not reflected that draft capital. He has played fewer than one-third of the snaps in every game this season, and he has just one catch for 17 yards so far. He continues to operate as the clear backup behind AJ Barner. While Barner has certainly earned his position atop the depth chart, there had been some preseason speculation that the two tight ends could coexist in this offense. After all, the Seahawks' offensive coordinator is Brian Fleury, who had a clear connection to the tight end position after spending several years as the tight ends coach in San Francisco. Instead, Fleury has consistently preferred to use just one tight end, giving Barner a 90% snap share in each of the last two weeks. As long as Barner stays healthy, Arroyo won't sniff the fantasy radar.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
AJ Barner Not a Streaming Option in Week 5
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.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
AJ Barner Working His Way Into Streaming Conversation
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.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
AJ Barner Trending Up After Starting Quarterback Returns
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.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Elijah Arroyo Remains Buried on Seahawks Tight End Depth Chart
A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo saw minimal usage as a rookie. However, Arroyo earned some preseason buzz as a potential year-two breakout candidate this past summer. Two games into the 2026 season, that has yet to come to fruition. Arroyo has recorded just one catch for 17 yards on one target so far, and he's failed to play more than 15 snaps in either of Seattle's first two contests. Seahawks tight end AJ Barner remains the team's clear TE1, and Arroyo has also struggled to leapfrog blocking specialist Eric Saubert on Seattle's depth chart at the position. If Barner were to suffer an injury at any point this season, Arroyo could finally get his opportunity to shine in Seattle. Until that point, Arroyo should be off the radar of fantasy managers in redraft leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
AJ Barner Off the Fantasy Radar Until Further Notice
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.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
AJ Barner a TE2 in Week 2
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.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Elijah Arroyo Could Be Limited to a Reserve Role in Seattle
Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo was barely utilized in his team's Week 1 win over the New England Patriots, failing to earn a single target. A second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Arroyo earned some buzz during the offseason, and there was a belief in some circles that he could move into a larger role in the Seahawks offense in his second season. However, it was Seattle tight end AJ Barner who dominated playing time against New England, playing 88% of the Seahawks' offensive snaps compared to just 22% for Arroyo. Even if Arroyo works his way onto the field more in the coming weeks, the Seattle passing game will be without starting quarterback Sam Darnold (hip) for at least Week 2 and potentially longer. Arroyo maintains some long-term upside, but he should likely be off the radar of redraft managers for the time being.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
