AJ Barner or Eli Stowers: Who Should You Start?

2026 Week 1 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.

Start Barner — Stowers is ruled out.

Eli Stowers is ruled out, which settles it: AJ Barner is the only startable side of this call. Barner projects 7.2 PPR points.

AJ Barner

AJ Barner

TE25SEAvs NE

Projected Points

Start
Eli Stowers

Eli Stowers

TEPHIvs WSH

Projected Points

OUT — verdict voidSit

AJ Barner’s market

REC
O/U 2.5
-159 / +125
Receptions Props →
REC YDS
O/U 25.5
-110 / -114
Receiving Yards Props →
ATD
Anytime TD
+265
Anytime Touchdown Props →

Eli Stowers’s market

ATD
Anytime TD
+1800
NE@
SEAWed, Sep 9, 8:20 PM ETView the game →
WSH@
PHISun, Sep 13, 4:25 PM ETView the game →

Why AJ Barner

Start

TE1 with dual-role value. Willing blocker who emerged as a red-zone target with six TDs on 52 catches.

Start — TE25 by consensus and projection: NE is the 1st-toughest matchup vs TEs, 24.0 implied team total.

  • NE ranks 1 of 32 against TEs (one of the tougher matchups, 0-game sample).
  • Vegas implies 24.0 team points as 3.5-point favorites.
  • Listed TE on the latest depth chart with a 88% snap share.

Latest on Barner

Role

Barner played 44 of 50 offensive snaps (88%) in Week 1 as Seattle's clear top tight end, with OC Brian Fleury using heavy tight end sets regularly.

Sports Illustrated (SI.com) · Sep 10, 2026

Why Eli Stowers

Sit

Ruled out — verdict void; pivot to your bench.

  • Currently ruled out — not a viable start until his status changes.
  • Vegas implies 26.0 team points as 5.5-point favorites.
  • Listed TE on the latest depth chart.

Latest on Stowers

Status

Eli Stowers was downgraded to out and placed on Injured Reserve because of quadriceps and hamstring injuries.

Eagles elevate WR Britain Covey, place TE Eli Stowers on Injured Reservephiladelphiaeagles.com · Sep 12, 2026
Status

Rookie TE Eli Stowers, who suffered a hamstring injury in the second preseason game against the Patriots, was listed as a limited participant on the Eagles' Wednesday and Thursday practice reports ahead of the Week 1 opener against Washington.

philadelphiaeagles.com · Sep 10, 2026
Role

Rookie TE Eli Stowers is currently dealing with a hamstring injury on top of struggles with pass blocking, and it would not be surprising if he is a Week 1 healthy scratch behind Johnny Mundt and E.J. Jenkins.

Sports Illustrated (Eagles on SI), Yahoo Sports · Sep 1, 2026

Head-to-head stats

MetricAJ BarnerEli Stowers
Projected points
Consensus rankTE25—
Opponent vs positionNE · 1 of 320-game sampleWSHno ranking yet
Receptions1 of 32—
Receiving Yards1 of 32—
Receiving TDs1 of 32—
Targets1 of 32—
Anytime TD1 of 32—
Target share8%—
Reception share12%—
Implied total · spread24.0-3.526.0-5.5
Depth chartTE1TE3
Snap share88%—
Injury designation—out

Signal breakdown

  • 7.2 vs 0.7 projected PPR pointsAJ Barner +
  • Consensus position rankeven
  • Matchup (DvP composite)even
  • Implied 24.0 vs 26.0 team pointsEli Stowers +
  • A ruled-out player cannot be a startAJ Barner +
  • Snap shareeven

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