AJ Barner vs Darnell Washington: Who Should You Start?
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 3.6 for the Pittsburgh Steelers (16 games).
That 3.5-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 10 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.
