Who Should I Start? George Kittle or AJ Barner


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
10.0 0.0 0.0 3.7 42.8 0.3

George Kittle News

George Kittle Activated From PUP List

Sunday, August 23, 9:19 AM

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle took another important step toward a possible Week 1 return on Sunday. The 49ers activated Kittle from the active/PUP list, according to Adam Schefter, clearing him to practice as he continues working back from the torn right Achilles he suffered in January. Kittle underwent surgery three days after the injury and has spent training camp doing rehab work on the side. His activation also means he will not be moved to reserve/PUP, which would have required him to miss at least the first four games. Kittle caught 57 passes for 628 yards and seven touchdowns in 11 games last season, so his return would immediately matter for fantasy managers. He has been ahead of schedule in his rehab and still has a legitimate chance to play against the Rams in Australia. That isn't guaranteed yet, but getting back onto the practice field puts him much closer.


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

AJ Barner Making a Strong Case for Late-Round Attention

Saturday, August 22, 10:48 AM

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner played through a lot last season and still put together a useful second year. He caught 52 of 68 targets for 519 yards and six touchdowns in 17 games, with five of those receiving scores coming from inside the 20. Barner needed two surgeries after the season, but he was back for the first practice of training camp and has looked good since. His August 7 practice stood out. Barner broke loose for a long catch-and-run touchdown off play action and added several more intermediate and deep catches from Sam Darnold. Seattle also has a new offensive coordinator in Brian Fleury, who came over after coaching tight ends and coordinating the run game in San Francisco. The tricky part is Elijah Arroyo. Seattle's 2025 second-round pick has had a strong summer himself and should get more chances after catching only 15 passes as a rookie. That could make Barner tough to trust every week. Still, he's healthy, coming off six receiving touchdowns, and has kept making plays in camp. RotoBaller ranks Barner TE29 and 218th overall in PPR, which leaves him worth considering late if you're waiting at tight end.


George Kittle vs. AJ Barner

Still trying to decide between Kittle and Barner? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that George Kittle is projected to score 10.0 points this week while AJ Barner is projected to score 7.1 points.