Who Should I Start? T.J. Hockenson or AJ Barner


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
8.4 0.0 0.0 3.8 33.8 0.2

T.J. Hockenson News

T.J. Hockenson Should be Viable TE2 Option

Wednesday, August 19, 5:13 PM

Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson hasn't been the same on the field since tearing his ACL in January of 2024. Since returning from injury, Hockenson has 92 receptions for 893 receiving yards and three touchdowns across 25 games. He hasn't been horrible, but Hockenson used to be a top-five player at his position. It's tough to have success when J.J. McCarthy, Carson Wentz, and Max Brosmer are offering subpar play at the quarterback spot. The hope is that the 29-year-old bounces back with Kyler Murray under center for the Vikings to begin the season. Murray had a ton of success when he was in Arizona with stud tight end Trey McBride. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect Hockenson to be a top option at his position, but he could offer viable TE2 value.


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.


T.J. Hockenson vs. AJ Barner

Still trying to decide between Hockenson and Barner? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that T.J. Hockenson is projected to score 8.4 points this week while AJ Barner is projected to score 7.1 points.