Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

AJ Barner vs Jaylen WarrenWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Jaylen Warren is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to AJ Barner's 7.1 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Jaylen Warren is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Jaylen Warren (12.3 PPG) is the higher-floor play. AJ Barner (7.1 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TESeattle Seahawks#22

AJ Barner

PPG

7.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

519

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

RBPittsburgh Steelers#18PPG LEADER

Jaylen Warren

PPG

12.3

Games

Rush Yds

958

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

333

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

AJ Barner

Jaylen Warren

Head to Head

7.1 PPG12.3 PPG

17 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

AJ Barner: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #22 at the position). Jaylen Warren: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #18 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB in most league formats.

AJ Barner vs Jaylen Warren: The Full Breakdown

Comparing AJ Barner (TE, Seattle Seahawks) against Jaylen Warren (RB, Pittsburgh Steelers) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. AJ Barner averaged 7.1 PPG in 2025 over 17 games, while Jaylen Warren posted 12.3 PPG across 16 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

AJ Barner has his bye in Week 11, Jaylen Warren in Week 9. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Jaylen Warren is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. AJ Barner is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: AJ Barner (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Jaylen Warren (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Jaylen Warren outscored AJ Barner by a projected 88 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•AJ Barner played 17 games in 2025 compared to Jaylen Warren's 16. That durability gap means AJ Barner contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jaylen Warren scored 8 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•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 Jaylen Warren: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	AJ Barner	Jaylen Warren
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.1	12.3
Games Played	17	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	121	197
Rushing Yards	14	958
Rush Yds/Game	0.8	59.9
Rushing TDs	1	6
Receptions	52	40
Receiving Yards	519	333
Targets	68	45
Total TDs	7	8
Age	24	27
Experience	1 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 9

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Jaylen Warren at 12.3 PPG, 5.2 points per game above AJ Barner's 7.1. 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 Jaylen Warren in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Jaylen Warren has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to AJ Barner's 7.1 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 Jaylen Warren average in 2025?▾

AJ Barner averaged 7.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Jaylen Warren averaged 12.3 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 5.2 points per game.

When are AJ Barner and Jaylen Warren's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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