AJ Barner vs Cole Kmet: Who Should You Start?
Deciding between AJ Barner and Cole Kmet is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Seattle Seahawks tight end put up 7.1 PPG in 2025 over 17 games; Cole Kmet of the Chicago Bears averaged 4.0 in 16. A 3.1-point margin that could shift on any given week.
The per-game difference of 3.1 points favors AJ Barner, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one tight end to the other.
AJ Barner is the volume tight end in this matchup with 52 receptions for 519 yards, while Cole Kmet profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (2 scores on 30 catches). In weeks where Cole Kmet finds the end zone he out-scores AJ Barner, but the floor gap is real.
AJ Barner has his bye in Week 10, and Cole Kmet rests in Week 7. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at tight end for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.
