AJ Barner vs Juwan Johnson: Who Should You Start?
The gap between AJ Barner and Juwan Johnson is smaller than most fantasy managers think. Separated by just 1.2 PPG in 2025, this is one of those tight end decisions that comes down to context, not name recognition. AJ Barner averaged 7.1 PPG with the Seattle Seahawks across 17 games, and Juwan Johnson posted 8.3 with the New Orleans Saints in 17.
When two tight ends are separated by less than two points per game, the decision shifts to weekly context. Who has the softer defense? Who is trending up over the last month? Which team is projected for more total points? Those are the tiebreakers that actually matter.
Juwan Johnson is the volume tight end in this matchup with 77 receptions for 889 yards, while AJ Barner profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (6 scores on 52 catches). In weeks where AJ Barner finds the end zone he out-scores Juwan Johnson, but the floor gap is real.
AJ Barner has his bye in Week 10, and Juwan Johnson rests in Week 12. 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.
