Seahawks' AJ Barner: Remaining top tight end Sunday
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Barner is slated to remain the top option at tight end for the Seahawks in Sunday's game against the Cardinals with Noah Fant (groin) inactive for the contest.
The rookie fourth-round pick wasn't able to do much with expanded opportunity during Fant's first two absences in Weeks 9 and 11, generating a modest 6-42 line on 11 targets. Nevertheless, Barner should continue to profile as the top pass-catching option at his position versus Arizona, with veteran Pharaoh Brown also mixing in.
Barner caught two of four targets for 15 yards in Sunday's 20-17 win over the 49ers.
Barner has served as the No. 1 tight end in each of the last two games with Noah Fant (groin) inactive. A rookie fourth-round pick, Barner has six catches for 42 yards over those two games. Thus, Barner's fantasy upside isn't that clear even if Fant is out again in Week 12 versus the Cardinals.
Barner's teammate Noah Fant (groin) has been ruled out for Sunday's game at San Francisco, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.
Fant previously missed a Week 9 loss to the Rams in which Barner played 91 percent of snaps and caught four of seven targets for 27 yards. It was Barner's first time with more than 48 percent snap share or three targets in an NFL game, with his role being larger than what Fant handles when healthy. Fant now is missing another game after a Week 10 bye, but Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald told Dugar on Friday that he doesn't expect the veteran tight end to be placed on injured reserve.
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Seahawks' AJ Barner: Reels in four passes
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Barner caught four of seven targets for 27 yards in Sunday's 26-20 overtime loss to the Rams.
Top tight end Noah Fant (groin) was inactive, leading to Barner handling a 91.0 percent snap share. Barner was clearly part of the game plan but couldn't capitalize on the opportunity. The Seahawks are on bye in Week 10 and Fant could remain out in Week 11 versus the 49ers, which would make Barner an intriguing deep-league option.
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Seahawks' AJ Barner: Puts up 34 yards
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Barner caught both of his targets for 34 yards in Sunday's 31-10 loss to the Bills.
The rookie fourth-round pick continued to play a meaningful role in the Seahawks' offense with a 40 percent snap share in Week 8. Barner appears far from vaulting over Noah Fant for the starting tight-end role, as the former has yet to surpass three targets in a game this year.
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Seahawks' AJ Barner: Catches lone target
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Barner caught his lone target for 13 yards in Thursday's 36-24 loss to the 49ers.
The rookie fourth-round pick has caught just one pass in back-to-back games, and he now has seven receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown through six games. Barner and Pharaoh Brown are splitting time behind lead tight end Noah Fant, and neither player has made enough of an impact as a pass catcher to separate himself.
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Seahawks' AJ Barner: Reels in one pass
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Barner caught his lone target for 13 yards in Sunday's 29-20 loss to the Giants.
Barner was minimally involved Sunday, playing just 15 of the Seahawks' 58 offensive snaps as the No. 2 tight end behind Noah Fant. The 22-year-old rookie has now recorded six catches for 53 yards and a touchdown through the first five games of the 2024 campaign. Barner should be ignored for fantasy purposes as the Seahawks host the 49ers in Week 6.
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Seahawks' AJ Barner: Finds end zone in loss
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Barner caught both of his targets for 27 yards and one touchdown in Monday's 42-29 loss to the Lions.
Barner's trip to the end zone was the first of his career, albeit it in a losing effort. The rookie handled the second-most offensive snaps (35) at tight end, behind Noah Fant (51) and ahead of both Pharaoh Brown (28) and Brady Russell (3). It's possible Barner's efficiency earns him some extra playing time in Seattle's offense, but he's likely more of depth option behind Fant for the time being. Barner does not carry much fantasy value heading into a Week 5 matchup against the Giants.
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Seahawks' AJ Barner: Three catches in win
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Barner caught all three of his targets for 13 total yards in Sunday's 24-3 win over the Dolphins.
Barner handle his lowest snap share of the year (28 percent) while fellow tight end Pharaoh Brown returned to the lineup from a foot injury. These were his first catches of the season, but Barner will have little fantasy appeal as the No. 3 tight end.
Barner (hamstring) practiced with the team Monday, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.
The tight end sat out of rookie minicamp and missed OTAs at the end of May due to the injury. Now that he's back, the fourth-round pick can try to earn a role on a depth chart that also includes veterans Noah Fant and Pharaoh Brown.
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Seahawks' AJ Barner: Missing time with hamstring injury
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Barner won't participate in OTAs this week due to a hamstring injury, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.
Barner missed all of rookie minicamp with the injury and still hasn't made a full recovery. Though Barner will lose out on some valuable reps prior to training camp, the Seahawks haven't indicated that the injury is anything that will affect the fourth-round rookie's availability heading into the 2024 season. Barner will look to push for playing time behind veteran tight ends Noah Fant and Pharaoh Brown after the Seahawks let Will Dissly and Colby Parkinson walk in free agency.
Seahawks' AJ Barner: Tremendous landing spot in Seattle
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The Seahawks selected Barner in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, 121st overall.
Barner tallied just 64 receptions, 610 yards and five touchdowns across 20 collegiate starts with both Indiana and Michigan over his four seasons, but it's fair to dream about what the tantalizing 6-foot-6 frame coupled with the tight end crop's largest wingspan could do as a pass catcher at the NFL level. Barner is a bit lean (251 pounds) for his height and didn't showcase the type of wild athleticism that so many of his peers did at the NFL Combine, but the Big Ten pedigree will always attract a certain organizational philosophy regardless if the production is there. Expect Barner to compete with a number of veteran flotsam for the No. 2 TE job behind the newly re-signed Noah Fant.
