Nov 16, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner (88) runs with the ball during the second half against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Sleeper Seahawks weapon named fantasy football addition

Originally posted on Seattle Seahawks on SI
By Connor Benintendi | Last updated Nov 18, 2025 8:00 PM ET

It's been at least eight years since a Seattle Seahawks tight end was even borderline relevant in fantasy football. However, with a recent surge by the team's top player at that position, the tables could be turning.

AJ Barner hasn't been incredibly productive this season (31 catches, 306 yards and four touchdowns), but he's had some standout games at various points throughout this season. Bleacher Report writer Alex Kay believes Barner could be worth a look.

"Barner has been inconsistent in 2025, but he deserves some streaming consideration for his upside," Kay wrote. "He's notched four top-10 finishes this season and just capped off his second top-five performance of the past six games."

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Barner courted a career-high 11 targets in Week 11 against the Los Angeles Rams (10 catches for 70 yards), but that isn't going to happen every week. The Rams shut down most of Seattle's deep passing game, forcing Sam Darnold to throw it short in the middle of the field.

That made Barner, who is often an outlet, a consistent target. If other teams continue to guard the Seahawks similarly, Barner could continue to get more opportunities. But that is far from a guarantee.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba has commanded an NFL-high 37.16 percent target share in Seattle's offense, which has left just 17.72 percent for Cooper Kupp (53rd), the Seahawks' second-leading receiver. Smith-Njigba also has a league-leading 1,146 receiving yards and five touchdowns on 72 catches.

Barner is currently sitting at a 14.18 percent target share, which ranks 25th among tight ends. That could continue to rise, and Barner would become a much more viable fantasy candidate. At the very least, he's worth keeping an eye on.

This article first appeared on Seattle Seahawks on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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