Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

AJ Barner vs Taysom HillWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

AJ Barner is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 7.1 PPG to Taysom Hill's 5.5 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

AJ Barner is the better fantasy play this season.

AJ Barner is the better play on a neutral week. 7.1 PPG with 533 yards gives a reliable baseline. Taysom Hill at 5.5 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft AJ Barner higher, but do not fade Taysom Hill entirely.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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TESeattle Seahawks#22PPG LEADER

AJ Barner

PPG

7.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

519

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

TENew Orleans Saints#99

Taysom Hill

PPG

5.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

195

Rec TDs

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

AJ Barner

Taysom Hill

Head to Head

7.1 PPG5.5 PPG

17 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 11Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

AJ Barner: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #22 at the position). Taysom Hill: 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 Taysom Hill at 25%. That ranking gap means AJ Barner carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

AJ Barner vs Taysom Hill: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between AJ Barner and Taysom Hill for your lineup, you are not alone. AJ Barner finished the 2025 season at 7.1 PPG for the Seattle Seahawks (17 games), and Taysom Hill averaged 5.5 for the New Orleans Saints (14 games).

That 1.6-point weekly advantage for AJ Barner is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

AJ Barner is the volume tight end in this matchup with 52 receptions for 519 yards, while Taysom Hill profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (2 scores on 18 catches). In weeks where Taysom Hill finds the end zone he out-scores AJ Barner, but the floor gap is real.

AJ Barner has his bye in Week 11, and Taysom Hill 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.

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. Taysom Hill (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•AJ Barner outscored Taysom Hill by a projected 27 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•AJ Barner played 17 games in 2025 compared to Taysom Hill'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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

AJ Barner vs Taysom Hill: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	AJ Barner	Taysom Hill
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.1	5.5
Games Played	17	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	121	77
Receptions	52	18
Rec/Game	3.1	1.3
Receiving Yards	519	195
Rec Yds/Game	30.5	13.9
Receiving TDs	6	2
Targets	68	0
Target Share/Game	4.0	0.0
Age	24	-
Experience	1 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 11	Week 12

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor AJ Barner at 7.1 PPG, 1.6 points per game above Taysom Hill's 5.5. 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 Taysom Hill in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, AJ Barner has the edge at 7.1 PPG compared to Taysom Hill's 5.5 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 Taysom Hill average in 2025?▾

AJ Barner averaged 7.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Taysom Hill averaged 5.5 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 1.6 points per game.

When are AJ Barner and Taysom Hill's bye weeks in 2026?▾

AJ Barner (SEA) has a bye in Week 11, and Taysom Hill (NO) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is AJ Barner or Taysom Hill a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

AJ Barner outscored Taysom Hill by 1.6 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.