AJ Barner vs Brock Bowers: Who Should You Start?
AJ Barner and Brock Bowers are both viable fantasy tight ends heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. AJ Barner averaged 7.1 PPG across 17 games with the Seattle Seahawks, while Brock Bowers posted 12.0 PPG in 12 appearances for the Las Vegas Raiders.
A 4.9-PPG gap gives Brock Bowers the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Both see steady target volume for the tight end position. AJ Barner had 52 catches for 519 yards; Brock Bowers posted 64 for 680. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.
One thing to note: both players share a Week 10 bye. That means you need a backup plan at tight end for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.
