Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

AJ Barner vs Trey McBride

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Trey McBride is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Trey McBride outscored AJ Barner by 7.8 PPG in 2025 with 11 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Trey McBride is the clear pick. AJ Barner profiles as a matchup-dependent tight end who can spike but lacks the consistent floor.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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TESeattle Seahawks#22

AJ Barner

PPG

7.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

519

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

TEArizona Cardinals#1PPG LEADER

Trey McBride

PPG

14.9

Games

Rec

126

Rec Yds

1,239

Rec TDs

Targets

169

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

AJ Barner

Trey McBride

Head to Head

7.1 PPG14.9 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

AJ Barner: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #22 at the position). Trey McBride: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #1 at the position). Among the top 30 tight ends this season, AJ Barner is producing at 32% of elite pace and Trey McBride at 68%. That ranking gap means Trey McBride carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

AJ Barner vs Trey McBride: Who Should You Start?

There is a real production gap between these two tight ends. Trey McBride (Arizona Cardinals) averaged 14.9 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring AJ Barner (Seattle Seahawks, 7.1 PPG) by 7.8 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

The per-game difference of 7.8 points favors Trey McBride, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one tight end to the other.

Trey McBride is the volume tight end in this matchup with 126 receptions for 1239 yards, while AJ Barner profiles as a more touchdown-dependent spike play (6 scores on 52 catches). In weeks where AJ Barner finds the end zone he out-scores Trey McBride, but the floor gap is real.

Both share a Week 8 bye, which matters for roster construction. If you are stacking tight ends this deep on your bench, plan your replacement tight end early.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Trey McBride is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. AJ Barner is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: AJ Barner (age 24) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Trey McBride (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Trey McBride outscored AJ Barner by a projected 133 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Trey McBride scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Trey McBride saw 169 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Both players share a Week 8 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatBarnerMcBride

PPG (Half-PPR)7.114.9

Games Played1717

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)121253

Receptions52126

Rec/Game3.17.4

Receiving Yards5191,239

Rec Yds/Game30.572.9

Receiving TDs611

Targets68169

Target Share/Game4.09.9

Age2426

Experience1 yrs3 yrs

Bye WeekWeek 8Week 8

Summary

14.9 PPG for Trey McBride versus 7.1 for AJ Barner in 2025. The baseline favors Trey McBride, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start AJ Barner or Trey McBride in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Trey McBride has the edge at 14.9 PPG compared to AJ Barner's 7.1 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 Trey McBride average in 2025?▾

AJ Barner averaged 7.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Trey McBride averaged 14.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 7.8 points per game.

Do AJ Barner and Trey McBride share a bye week?▾

Yes, both AJ Barner and Trey McBride share a Week 8 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at tight end for that week.

Is AJ Barner or Trey McBride a better fantasy tight end in 2026?▾

Trey McBride outscored AJ Barner by 7.8 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.