1. AJ Barner, Seahawks
AJ Barner is a young player who has flashed promise on one of the game’s top passing attacks. At this stage in the season, that’s good enough to make him the top replacement for Sam LaPorta in your fantasy football lineup. So far this season, the second-year pro has recorded 21 receptions for 236 yards and four touchdowns on 26 targets. These aren’t game-changing numbers by any stretch of the imagination, but there are reasons to be excited about what he could bring to your team.
Consistency is the name of the game, and Barner has received at least three targets in all but three games this year, and he was playing through a calf injury in one of those contests. While he doesn’t have the same high ceiling as LaPorta, this target consistency sets a safe floor, and he’s playing in an offense with plenty of scoring opportunities. Sam Darnold is playing at a near-MVP level, and Week 11’s showdown with the high-flying Los Angeles Rams should be a high-scoring affair. Barner has a decent shot of finding the endzone and could be a decent start in your tight end spot.
