Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

AJ Barner vs Gunnar HelmWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

AJ Barner is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.1 PPG to Gunnar Helm's 4.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

AJ Barner is the better fantasy play this season.

AJ Barner has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.7-PPG advantage is real (7.1 to 4.4), and AJ Barner's 7 touchdowns show scoring upside. Gunnar Helm is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

TETennessee Titans#40

Gunnar Helm

PPG

4.4

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

357

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

AJ Barner

Gunnar Helm

Head to Head

7.1 PPG4.4 PPG

17 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

AJ Barner: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #22 at the position). Gunnar Helm: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #40 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, AJ Barner is producing at 32% of elite pace and Gunnar Helm at 20%. That ranking gap means AJ Barner carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

AJ Barner vs Gunnar Helm: The Full Breakdown

AJ Barner and Gunnar Helm 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 Gunnar Helm posted 4.4 PPG in 16 appearances for the Tennessee Titans.

A 2.7-PPG gap gives AJ Barner 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; Gunnar Helm posted 44 for 357. At a position where most starters barely clear 7 PPG, this class of tight end is where the fantasy advantage lives week to week.

AJ Barner has his bye in Week 11, and Gunnar Helm rests in Week 9. 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.

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. Gunnar Helm (age 23) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•AJ Barner outscored Gunnar Helm by a projected 46 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•AJ Barner played 17 games in 2025 compared to Gunnar Helm's 16. 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 Gunnar Helm: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	AJ Barner	Gunnar Helm
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.1	4.4
Games Played	17	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	121	70
Receptions	52	44
Rec/Game	3.1	2.8
Receiving Yards	519	357
Rec Yds/Game	30.5	22.3
Receiving TDs	6	2
Targets	68	55
Target Share/Game	4.0	3.4
Age	24	23
Experience	1 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 9

Summary

AJ Barner outscored Gunnar Helm by 2.7 PPG in 2025 (7.1 to 4.4). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start AJ Barner or Gunnar Helm in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, AJ Barner has the edge at 7.1 PPG compared to Gunnar Helm's 4.4 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 Gunnar Helm average in 2025?▾

AJ Barner averaged 7.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Gunnar Helm averaged 4.4 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 2.7 points per game.

When are AJ Barner and Gunnar Helm's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is AJ Barner or Gunnar Helm a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

AJ Barner outscored Gunnar Helm by 2.7 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.