Who Should I Start? AJ Barner or Elijah Arroyo

Sunday, August 10, 4:12 PM

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner has looked "very promising" in training camp practices and is "currently the No. 1 tight end," according to Michael-Shawn Duggar of The Athletic. A fourth-round pick out of Michigan in the 2024 draft, Barner recorded 30 catches for 245 yards and four touchdowns in 17 games (six starts) as a rookie. Seattle released veteran tight end Noah Fant last month, which could be an indication of the confidence the organization has in Barner. However, the Seahawks also used a second-round pick in the 2025 draft at the position when they selected Elijah Arroyo, so Barner will still have in-house competition for targets and playing time.

Saturday, August 16, 10:44 AM

Seattle Seahawks tight end Elijah Arroyo caught two passes for 19 yards in Friday's preseason win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The second-round rookie has now caught four passes for 33 yards in two preseason games this season. He has displayed the athleticism that made him a second-round selection in the first place. The learning curve at tight end is difficult in the NFL, but reports on Arroyo have been solid throughout the summer, and he has played well this preseason. With veteran tight end Noah Fant out of the way following his recent release, Arroyo has a chance to rise the ranks in this offense in a hurry. Additionally, the Seahawks will likely employ two tight end sets relatively often. As such, Arroyo should see a lot of run with second-year tight end AJ Barner. Arroyo is a deep sleeper for 2025 and a great bet in dynasty leagues.