Who Should I Start? Ja'Tavion Sanders or AJ Barner
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Ja'Tavion Sanders News
Wednesday, February 18, 10:06 AM
Carolina Panthers tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders (fibula) missed the end of 2025 after being placed on IR. He still appeared in 13 games throughout the course of the regular season, amassing 29 catches, 190 yards, and one touchdown. This was a significant step back from his rookie campaign in 2024, when he was the TE36 in PPR leagues with 33 catches, 342 yards, and a trip to the end zone. The Panthers simply haven't placed much emphasis on utilizing the tight end position in the passing game in recent years, so even though Sanders has been atop the depth chart, he hasn't carved out a significant receiving role. That's unlikely to change in 2026, so he's not a particularly intriguing target in redraft leagues. However, he's worth holding and stashing in dynasty leagues because he's still a young, talented player with long-term upside in a more appropriate scheme.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3.5 | 29.1 | 0.2 |
AJ Barner News
Wednesday, February 18, 11:01 AM
Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner broke out as the overall TE14 in PPR leagues during his second pro season in 2025. Fully healthy for all 17 games, he racked up 52 catches, 519 yards, and six touchdowns in a Seahawks offense that ultimately won Super Bowl LX. Most importantly, he fended off rookie Elijah Arroyo. Before the year, it seemed like Arroyo might push to be the No. 1 tight end, but that never happened because Barner contributed at such a high level. Arroyo will get a little more involved in 2026, but we expect that Barner will remain the top tight end target for Sam Darnold, especially around the goal line. Not only is he trending up in dynasty leagues, but he's also an intriguing option in redraft leagues, especially for managers waiting to take their primary tight end until the later round of fantasy drafts. He'll likely open 2026 draft rankings just outside the top 12 tight ends, but he has top-10 upside.
Ja'Tavion Sanders vs. AJ Barner
Still trying to decide between Sanders and Barner? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Ja'Tavion Sanders is projected to score 0.0 points this week while AJ Barner is projected to score 7.4 points.
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