Who Should I Start? Ben Sinnott or AJ Barner

Saturday, September 20, 11:33 AM

Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott could be in line to see more snaps in Week 3 against the Raiders with tight end John Bates (groin) out. Sinnott has operated as Washington's third tight end since being drafted in the second round of last year's draft, but he has a chance to see a career high in snaps this week. Sinnott only played three snaps total and caught one ball for eight yards with Bates injured in Week 2's loss to the Packers, and how often he plays in Week 3 will be telling for the second-year tight end. He's not a direct replacement for Bates because he's not as good a blocker at the point of attack, but he is solid at blocking on the move and is an excellent athlete. There could be some specific packages for Sinnott against the Raiders, and getting a real look at him in game action will be noteworthy for his dynasty value. But he isn't on radars in redraft leagues for Week 3.

Friday, October 17, 8:42 PM

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner has emerged as an important component of Seattle's offense in 2025. Barner is the TE11 with four of his six games producing double-digit fantasy points. Unfortunately, Barner remains difficult to trust in fantasy. He has only earned more than three targets on one occasion this season. Much of his fantasy production is predicated on scoring a touchdown or logging a big play. He needs more volume if he is to become a weekly starter in fantasy. Week 7 presents an interesting opportunity for Barner against the Houston Texans. The Texans boast one of the best defenses in the NFL. They are good at shutting down every offensive skill position. However, the Seahawks have a plethora of weapons on the outside and in the running game that need to be shut down if Houston has any chance of competing in this game. As such, Barner could find himself loose in coverage due to a lack of attention. He is a solid dart throw this week because he has proven himself to be a red zone threat. If his volume increases in Week 7, we could be having a different conversation moving forward.