AJ Barner · Gunnar Helm · 2026 week 8

AJ Barner or Gunnar Helm?

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

Start AJ BarnerAJ Barner projects 2.8 PPR points clear of Gunnar Helm in week 8, drawing CHI — the 15th-ranked matchup for TEs. The numbers behind the call are below; overrule them with your eyes open.

Player	Wk 8	Proj (PPR)	Matchup	Form L3	Trade value	Status
AJ Barner START	vs CHI	8.4	15th	6.1	12	healthy
Gunnar Helm	@ CIN	5.6	14th	4.1	–	healthy

TEs vs CHI recently: Tucker Kraft 6.6 pts (W5) · Kyle Pitts Sr. 18 pts (W6) · Eli Raridon 11.6 pts (W7).

TEs vs CIN recently: Brenton Strange 9.5 pts (W4) · Greg Dulcich 5.7 pts (W5) · Josh Cuevas 3.5 pts (W7).

🎓 The coach's read

AJ Barner projects 2.8 points higher in PPR.
AJ Barner faces CHI, 15th most generous to TEs.
Gunnar Helm faces CIN, 14th most generous to TEs.

Who wins a straight-up trade?

AJ Barner carries the higher trade value — 12 against 0. In a one-for-one, the side receiving AJ Barner gets the most.

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

More TE decisions

AJ Barner or Terrance Ferguson?AJ Barner or Mike Gesicki?AJ Barner or Darren Waller?Gunnar Helm or Oronde Gadsden?Gunnar Helm or Eli Raridon?Gunnar Helm or Evan Engram?

All numbers are the 2026 season, refreshed nightly.