Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner is one of the more underrated players at his position. Tight ends can generally get overshadowed unless they catch a lot of passes while also being a fit flamboyant in their approach to the media. Barner can do both, but in 2026, he might become a breakout star based on his potential to increase his targets from quarterback Sam Darnold.
That should start in Week 1, too. Barner missed some of training camp with an oblique injury, and he appeared on Seattle's injury report ahead of Week 1 against the New England Patriots. Thankfully, he was listed as a full participant.
This implied that Barner wasn't going to miss the game on Wednesday, and the team is likely to use him a lot. New offensive coordinator Brian Fleury comes from a San Francisco 49ers system that likes to involve tight ends both in terms of creative blocking assignments and in the passing attack.
AJ Barner should be good to go for the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1
As opposed to 2025, when wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba was easily the focal point of the passing game (and, it should be noted, successfully), the offense needs to be more varied in 2026. Defenses will adjust and adapt to what any offense is trying to do. Seattle cannot be nearly as JSN-heavy as it was last year.
Barner and fellow tight end Elijah Arroyo should help Fleury bring his own good scheme. Arroyo is more of a pure receiver, however, and Barner can do multiple things well. He will see more snaps than Arroyo, which should translate into more targets from Darnold.
In 2025, the Patriots ranked in the middle of the league (15th) in fantasy points allowed to tight ends and touchdowns given up to TEs (also 15th). New England was 11th in receptions allowed to tight ends (97).
An offseason can obviously bring massive schematic changes, of course, but the Patriots didn't really do that. They were generally solid against tight ends, though with enough room for error that AJ Barner might have a chance to have a terrific game. He has edged up in production in each of his first two years, and his third should be his best, as long as he can stay healthy.
The good part is that AJ Barner is healthy for Week 1, and he should make an impact for the Seattle Seahawks. The game could just be his first step toward announcing his true greatness to the rest of the NFL.
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