Who Should I Start? Noah Fant or AJ Barner

Sunday, June 21, 12:02 PM

A first-round pick of the Denver Broncos in 2019, tight end Noah Fant has never quite lived up to the hype with which he entered the league, and the latest chapter in his eight-year career saw him sign a two-year, $8.8 million deal with the New Orleans Saints at the start of 2026 free agency. Playing in 15 games for the Bengals in 2025, Fant caught 34 passes for a career-low 288 yards, and in New Orleans, he's now part of a deep tight end room that could make it difficult for him to see much more than a complementary role. Veteran Juwan Johnson was one of only eight tight ends to see triple-digit targets in 2025, and the Saints spent a third-round pick on Georgia's Oscar Delp in the 2026 NFL Draft. While New Orleans should again have one of the most high-volume passing attacks under head coach Kellen Moore, there are a growing number of mouths to feed, with eighth overall pick Jordyn Tyson joining 2025 second-team All-Pro Chris Olave, and running back Travis Etienne Jr. coming aboard as one of the splashier signings of free agency. Buried on the depth chart and not a strong enough blocker to force his way onto the field, Fant is RotoBaller's dynasty TE51 and not a player to expect much from as he enters his age-29 season.