Who Should I Start? Evan Engram or AJ Barner
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 2.6 | 23.4 | 0.1 |
Evan Engram News
Friday, August 14, 6:37 PM
Denver Broncos tight end Evan Engram caught one of his three targets for 24 yards during Friday's preseason contest against the Atlanta Falcons. He was actually targeted four times by Jarrett Stidham, but one of plays was called back due to an offensive holding penalty. Fantasy managers shouldn't be deterred by the fact that Engram had just one catch, and that two of his targets weren't caught. Rather, there should be optimism that he fetched a significant amount of targets despite playing just a couple of drives. That's a step in the right direction after an uninspiring 2025 campaign in which he caught 50 passes, scored one touchdown, and ranked as the TE29 in PPR leagues. Engram doesn't have a multi-touchdown season since 2023, and he'll look to get back on track in 2026. The passing game is a bit crowded following the trade for wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, but the good news is that Engram essentially has the top of the tight end room all to himself. He's a mid-to-low TE2 with upside going forward.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.1 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 2.8 | 27.8 | 0.2 |
AJ Barner News
Tuesday, August 11, 6:33 AM
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler writes that Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner is an "ascending" TE who "should come into his own in Year 3." Barner is finally healthy after multiple offseason surgeries, and new offensive coordinator Brian Fleury's scheme "should accelerate his progress." Fowler adds that Barner "can do a little bit of everything." The Seahawks will have two tight ends on the field "very, very often," according to Barner. The 24-year-old former fourth-rounder in 2024 from the University of Michigan took a step forward last year in his second season, catching 52 of 68 targets for 519 yards and six touchdowns in 17 regular-season games after posting a 30-245-4 line as a rookie. However, with second-year player Elijah Arroyo expected to be a much bigger part of Seattle's passing attack, Barner's fantasy value will likely come with a low ceiling as more of a touchdown-dependent TE2 streamer as long as Arroyo stays healthy. RotoBaller currently has Barner ranked as the No. 29 fantasy TE for the 2026 season, right behind Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton.
Evan Engram vs. AJ Barner
Still trying to decide between Engram and Barner? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Evan Engram is projected to score 5.6 points this week while AJ Barner is projected to score 7.1 points.
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