Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

AJ Barner vs Michael MayerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

AJ Barner is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.1 PPG to Michael Mayer's 4.7 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 2.4-PPG advantage is real (7.1 to 4.7), and AJ Barner's 7 touchdowns show scoring upside. Michael Mayer 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

TELas Vegas Raiders#37

Michael Mayer

PPG

4.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

328

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 13

The Edge Chart

AJ Barner

Michael Mayer

Head to Head

7.1 PPG4.7 PPG

17 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 13

Fantasy Tiers

AJ Barner: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #22 at the position). Michael Mayer: Tier 5 (Deep League) TE (ranked #37 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, AJ Barner is producing at 32% of elite pace and Michael Mayer at 21%. That ranking gap means AJ Barner carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

AJ Barner vs Michael Mayer: 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. Michael Mayer (Las Vegas Raiders) came in at 4.7 PPG over 12 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

AJ Barner carries a 2.4-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 Michael Mayer profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (1 scores on 35 catches). In weeks where Michael Mayer 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 Michael Mayer is off Week 13. 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

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. Michael Mayer (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•AJ Barner outscored Michael Mayer by a projected 41 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•AJ Barner played 17 games in 2025 compared to Michael Mayer's 12. 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 Michael Mayer: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	AJ Barner	Michael Mayer
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.1	4.7
Games Played	17	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	121	56
Receptions	52	35
Rec/Game	3.1	2.9
Receiving Yards	519	328
Rec Yds/Game	30.5	27.3
Receiving TDs	6	1
Targets	68	50
Target Share/Game	4.0	4.2
Age	24	24
Experience	1 yrs	2 yrs
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 13

Summary

Based on 2025 production, AJ Barner holds the PPG edge with low-end output at 7.1 points per game. Michael Mayer averaged 4.7 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 Michael Mayer in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, AJ Barner has the edge at 7.1 PPG compared to Michael Mayer's 4.7 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 Michael Mayer average in 2025?▾

AJ Barner averaged 7.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Michael Mayer averaged 4.7 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 2.4 points per game.

When are AJ Barner and Michael Mayer's bye weeks in 2026?▾

AJ Barner (SEA) has a bye in Week 11, and Michael Mayer (LV) has a bye in Week 13. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is AJ Barner or Michael Mayer a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

AJ Barner outscored Michael Mayer by 2.4 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.