Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

AJ Barner vs Hayden HurstWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

AJ Barner is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.1 PPG to Hayden Hurst's 3.7 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 3.4-PPG advantage is real (7.1 to 3.7), and AJ Barner's 7 touchdowns show scoring upside. Hayden Hurst 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

TELos Angeles Chargers#99

Hayden Hurst

PPG

3.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

238

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 5

The Edge Chart

AJ Barner

Hayden Hurst

Head to Head

7.1 PPG3.7 PPG

17 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 5

Fantasy Tiers

AJ Barner: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #22 at the position). Hayden Hurst: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, AJ Barner is producing at 32% of elite pace and Hayden Hurst at 17%. That ranking gap means AJ Barner carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

AJ Barner vs Hayden Hurst: The Full Breakdown

Two tight ends who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. AJ Barner (Seattle Seahawks) finished the 2025 season averaging 7.1 fantasy points per game in 17 games. Hayden Hurst (Los Angeles Chargers) came in at 3.7 PPG over 14 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

AJ Barner carries a 3.4-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

AJ Barner is the volume tight end in this matchup with 52 receptions for 519 yards, while Hayden Hurst profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 25 catches). In weeks where Hayden Hurst finds the end zone he out-scores AJ Barner, but the floor gap is real.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: AJ Barner sits Week 11 while Hayden Hurst is off Week 5. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire AJ Barner at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Hayden Hurst is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: AJ Barner (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Hayden Hurst (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•AJ Barner outscored Hayden Hurst by a projected 58 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•AJ Barner played 17 games in 2025 compared to Hayden Hurst's 14. 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 Hayden Hurst: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	AJ Barner	Hayden Hurst
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.1	3.7
Games Played	17	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	121	52
Receptions	52	25
Rec/Game	3.1	1.8
Receiving Yards	519	238
Rec Yds/Game	30.5	17.0
Receiving TDs	6	1
Targets	68	35
Target Share/Game	4.0	2.5
Age	24	-
Experience	1 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 5

Summary

Based on 2025 production, AJ Barner holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 7.1 points per game. Hayden Hurst averaged 3.7 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start AJ Barner or Hayden Hurst in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, AJ Barner has the edge at 7.1 PPG compared to Hayden Hurst's 3.7 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 Hayden Hurst average in 2025?▾

AJ Barner averaged 7.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Hayden Hurst averaged 3.7 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 3.4 points per game.

When are AJ Barner and Hayden Hurst's bye weeks in 2026?▾

AJ Barner (SEA) has a bye in Week 11, and Hayden Hurst (LAC) has a bye in Week 5. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is AJ Barner or Hayden Hurst a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

AJ Barner outscored Hayden Hurst by 3.4 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.