Who Should I Start? Ja'Tavion Sanders or AJ Barner

Monday, August 4, 11:13 AM

Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders continues to impress during training camp this year. Sanders has been the Panthers' offensive MVP thus far in camp, according to the Charlotte Observer's Mike Kaye. Sanders "is catching passes in droves and is adding yards after the catch with regularity," Kaye wrote in his Stock Watch piece on Monday. Sanders, heading into his second NFL season, also looks leaner and more muscular this year after playing at 255 pounds as a rookie. The young tight end appears primed for a breakout in 2025 on an ascending Panthers offense, making him an interesting dart-throw as a late-round option in fantasy drafts later this summer.

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.