Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

AJ Barner vs Darnell WashingtonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

AJ Barner is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.1 PPG to Darnell Washington's 4.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

AJ Barner is the better fantasy play this season.

AJ Barner is the better play on a neutral week. 7.1 PPG with 533 yards gives a reliable baseline. Darnell Washington at 4.5 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft AJ Barner higher, but do not fade Darnell Washington entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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TESeattle Seahawks#22PPG LEADER

AJ Barner

PPG

7.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

519

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

TEPittsburgh Steelers#38

Darnell Washington

PPG

4.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

364

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

AJ Barner

Darnell Washington

Head to Head

7.1 PPG4.5 PPG

17 GP13 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

AJ Barner: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #22 at the position). Darnell Washington: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #38 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, AJ Barner is producing at 32% of elite pace and Darnell Washington at 20%. That ranking gap means AJ Barner carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

AJ Barner vs Darnell Washington: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between AJ Barner and Darnell Washington for your lineup, you are not alone. AJ Barner finished the 2025 season at 7.1 PPG for the Seattle Seahawks (17 games), and Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 for the Pittsburgh Steelers (13 games).

That 2.6-point weekly advantage for AJ Barner is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

AJ Barner is the volume tight end in this matchup with 52 receptions for 519 yards, while Darnell Washington profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 31 catches). In weeks where Darnell Washington finds the end zone he out-scores AJ Barner, but the floor gap is real.

One scheduling note: AJ Barner is off Week 11 and Darnell Washington Week 9. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in tight end for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: AJ Barner (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Darnell Washington (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•AJ Barner outscored Darnell Washington by a projected 44 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•AJ Barner played 17 games in 2025 compared to Darnell Washington's 13. That durability gap means AJ Barner contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•AJ Barner scored 7 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•AJ Barner saw 68 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

AJ Barner vs Darnell Washington: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	AJ Barner	Darnell Washington
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.1	4.5
Games Played	17	13
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	121	59
Receptions	52	31
Rec/Game	3.1	2.4
Receiving Yards	519	364
Rec Yds/Game	30.5	28.0
Receiving TDs	6	1
Targets	68	43
Target Share/Game	4.0	3.3
Age	24	24
Experience	1 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 9

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor AJ Barner at 7.1 PPG, 2.6 points per game above Darnell Washington's 4.5. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start AJ Barner or Darnell Washington in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, AJ Barner has the edge at 7.1 PPG compared to Darnell Washington's 4.5 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did AJ Barner and Darnell Washington average in 2025?▾

AJ Barner averaged 7.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Darnell Washington averaged 4.5 PPG over 13 games. That is a difference of 2.6 points per game.

When are AJ Barner and Darnell Washington's bye weeks in 2026?▾

AJ Barner (SEA) has a bye in Week 11, and Darnell Washington (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is AJ Barner or Darnell Washington a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

AJ Barner outscored Darnell Washington by 2.6 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.