Start AJ Barner or Gunnar Helm? Week 6

Our Week 6 call

Start AJ Barner over Gunnar Helm in Week 6.

Market-based projections have AJ Barner at 6.4 points and Gunnar Helm at 5.2, a gap of 1.2. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 6.4 fantasy points for AJ Barner, with 100 percent of the markets a TE needs posted.

The market-based projection for AJ Barner is 24 receiving yards and 2-3 receptions, with a 20% chance to score a touchdown (13, 13 and 12 market sources).

Player markets imply 5.2 fantasy points for Gunnar Helm, with 100 percent of the markets a TE needs posted.

The market-based projection for Gunnar Helm is 18 receiving yards and 2-3 receptions, with a 15% chance to score a touchdown (9, 10 and 12 market sources).

That puts AJ Barner 1.2 points ahead of Gunnar Helm on the market projections.

Injury status

AJ Barner is not on the injury report.

Gunnar Helm is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 6

Through Week 5, AJ Barner played 89 percent of SEA snaps, drew 14 percent of the targets, earned 4 percent of the air yards and had 12 percent of the red zone chances.

AJ Barner, Week 2 against ARI: 56 of 70 snaps, 1 carry for 1 yards, 1 target and 1 catch for 8 yards, 1 touchdown.

AJ Barner, Week 3 against WAS: 61 of 67 snaps, 9 targets and 5 catches for 69 yards.

AJ Barner, Week 4 against LAC: 54 of 60 snaps, 3 targets and 1 catch for 12 yards.

AJ Barner, Week 5 against SF: 60 of 63 snaps, 5 targets and 3 catches for 20 yards.

Through Week 5, Gunnar Helm played 77 percent of TEN snaps, drew 9 percent of the targets, earned 5 percent of the air yards and had 7 percent of the red zone chances.

Gunnar Helm, Week 2 against PHI: 46 of 53 snaps, 2 targets and 2 catches for 13 yards.

Gunnar Helm, Week 3 against NYG: 49 of 60 snaps, 4 targets and 2 catches for 14 yards.

Gunnar Helm, Week 4 against BAL: 46 of 64 snaps, 1 target and 1 catch for 5 yards.

Gunnar Helm, Week 5 against HOU: 45 of 63 snaps, 1 target and 0 catches for 0 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, AJ Barner played 17 games for SEA and scored 147.3 PPR points, 8.7 a game, finishing TE14.

He caught 52 of 68 targets for 519 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 12 red zone targets and 248 air yards.

He was on the field for 78 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

In 2025, Gunnar Helm played 16 games for TEN and scored 91.7 PPR points, 5.7 a game, finishing TE31.

He caught 44 of 55 targets for 357 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 7 red zone targets and 198 air yards.

He was on the field for 53 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 6 calls

• Start Brenton Strange over AJ Barner.
• Start Brock Bowers over AJ Barner.
• Start Cade Otton over AJ Barner.
• Start Brenton Strange over Gunnar Helm.
• Start Cade Otton over Gunnar Helm.
• Start Chig Okonkwo over Gunnar Helm.