Who Should I Start? Juwan Johnson or AJ Barner

Tuesday, August 5, 5:16 PM

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson (groin) was wearing a jersey but wasn't in full pads for Tuesday's training camp practice as he continues to be limited, according to Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. Johnson is dealing with a minor groin injury that he sustained last week in practice, but he might be held out of the team's first preseason game this Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers as a precaution. It makes more sense for the Saints to be careful with the 28-year-old with both tight ends Taysom Hill (knee) and Foster Moreau (knee) unlikely to be ready for the start of the 2025 regular season. While Johnson does have a clear path to TE1 duties for the Saints this year, he should go undrafted in 12-team fantasy leagues with all the uncertainty surrounding who the team's quarterback will be.

Sunday, January 5, 8:18 PM

Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner scored his fourth touchdown of the season in a Week 18 win over the Los Angeles Rams. The rookie out of Michigan has proven to be a solid contributor all season. He will finish the year with 245 yards on 30 receptions in addition to the touchdowns. Barner has a chance to become a more integral part of Seattle's offense in 2025. He has already displayed solid pass-catching chops and solid run after catch ability this season. He also started several games in place of tight end Noah Fant this season. He displayed that he has what it takes to be a potential starting tight end in this league. Barner is worth monitoring throughout the offseason to see what kind of buzz he generates in camp. He is also worth a roster spot in dynasty should he have a full second-year breakout. The future looks like it could be bright for this kid.