Who Should I Start? AJ Barner or Erick All Jr.

Friday, December 5, 10:59 AM

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (knee/shoulder) has carved out a large role for himself this season. However, the Falcons are No. 2 against opposing tight ends in fantasy. Atlanta has allowed fewer than 100 fantasy points to the position in 12 games this season. Barner's volume has been inconsistent, meaning that he is susceptible to bad matchups. Despite possessing a bit of a knack for finding the end zone, as evidenced by his eight touchdowns in two seasons in the league, it is difficult to trust a player with so little consistent volume. However, given that players such as San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle are on a bye this week, you may be looking for a plug-and-play. Barner possesses a very low floor, but his athleticism and nose for the end zone make him a viable one-week option, albeit a risky one. He is a better option than many of the other tight ends on the waiver wire; just proceed with caution. It is worth noting that Barner has been dealing with a knee/shoulder injury this week, but he is practicing, and it does not seem like an issue that will bother him this weekend.

Friday, July 25, 1:30 PM

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Erick All Jr. (knee) is set to miss the entire 2025 season after undergoing a second surgery on his ACL this offseason, according to James Rapien of BengalsTalk.com. All was seen at training camp practice on Thursday walking around with a brace on his right knee. The 24-year-old played in just seven games in his final season in college due to a torn ACL, and he tore the ACL in the same knee last year as well. The Iowa product appeared in nine games (six starts) with the Bengals in his rookie season before injuring his knee and caught 20 of 22 targets for 158 yards and no touchdowns. It's been a tough go for All the last two years, but he's hoping to come back strong in 2026. With All out for all of this year, it will mean more work for both Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample.