AJ Barner · Dalton Schultz · 2026 week 9

AJ Barner or Dalton Schultz?

Wondering who you should start this week — AJ Barner or Dalton Schultz? The start/sit call and the numbers behind it are below, plus who wins a straight-up trade. Rebuilt nightly.

Start Dalton Schultz — barelyThis one is a coin flip — the projections are within 0.7 points. The matchup leans Dalton Schultz (LAC allow the 26th-most TE points), but you can defend either call.

Player	Wk 9	Proj (PPR)	Matchup	Form L3	Trade value	Status
AJ Barner	vs ARI	7.9	8th · soft	5.8	–	healthy
Dalton Schultz START	@ LAC	8.6	26th · tough	7.6	45	healthy

TEs vs ARI recently: Colby Parkinson 9.1 pts (W6) · Evan Engram 0.2 pts (W7) · James Mitchell 6 pts (W8).

TEs vs LAC recently: Evan Engram 5.5 pts (W5) · Travis Kelce 5.3 pts (W6) · Tyler Higbee 1.4 pts (W8).

🎓 The coach's read

Projections are 0.7 apart — too close to call on projection alone.
Dalton Schultz has the higher floor (3.4) — the safer start if you are favoured.
AJ Barner has the higher ceiling (16.1) — the play if you need points.
Dalton Schultz is steady — about 16% less volatile week to week than a typical TE projected here — higher floor, lower ceiling.
AJ Barner faces ARI, 8th most generous to TEs.
Dalton Schultz faces LAC, 26th most generous to TEs.

Who wins a straight-up trade?

Dalton Schultz carries the higher trade value — 45 against 0. In a one-for-one, the side receiving Dalton Schultz gets the most.

Open in Start/Sit (any scoring) Open in the Trade Analyzer

More TE decisions

AJ Barner or Darnell Washington?AJ Barner or Noah Fant?AJ Barner or Mason Taylor?Dalton Schultz or Pat Freiermuth?Dalton Schultz or Michael Mayer?Dalton Schultz or Chig Okonkwo?

All numbers are the 2026 season, refreshed nightly.