FANTASY FOOTBALL NEWS

A.J. Barner Is A Problem For Elijah Arroyo

By Jared Smola | Updated on Mon, Aug 11 2025 6:40 PM UTC

Seahawks TE A.J. Barner is atop the depth chart right now, according to The Athletic's Michael-Shawn Dugar. "Barner is currently the No. 1 tight end, and he’s looked very promising in practice," Dugar writes. "Feeling a bit miscast as a blocking tight end coming out of Michigan, Barner continues to show he’s a great athlete with soft hands and the ability to make big-time catches."

What They're Saying

Barner: “I just need to get the ball more and make the plays with it, and I think people need to start showing me love and giving me my respect.”

2025 Fantasy Football Impact

Barner never reached 250 receiving yards in any of his four college seasons. He fell just shy of that mark as a rookie last year, catching 30 balls for 245 yards and four TDs. He ranked 34th among 43 qualifying TEs in yards per route and 33rd in Pro Football Focus receiving grade.

We're not expecting any kind of fantasy-relevant breakout from Barner this season. But the Seahawks value his combination of blocking and pass-catching ability.

That could make it tough for TE Elijah Arroyo to find enough snaps this season to be a fantasy factor. The rookie remains an exciting dynasty stash. But, for 2025, he should only be considered a TE3 target in best-ball and TE-premium drafts.

Jared Smola, Lead Analyst

Jared has been with Draft Sharks since 2007. He’s now Lead Analyst, heading up the preseason and weekly projections that fuel your Draft War Room and in-season tools. He currently ranks ninth among 173 analysts in draft rankings accuracy.