AJ Barner · Michael Mayer · 2026 week 8

AJ Barner or Michael Mayer?

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

Start AJ Barner — barelyThis one is a coin flip — the projections are within 0.9 points. The matchup leans AJ Barner (CHI allow the 15th-most TE points), but you can defend either call.

Player	Wk 8	Proj (PPR)	Matchup	Form L3	Trade value	Status
AJ Barner START	vs CHI	8.4	15th	6.1	13	healthy
Michael Mayer	@ NYJ	7.5	27th · tough	8	80	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 NYJ recently: Harold Fannin Jr. 0.4 pts (W5) · Hunter Henry 10.8 pts (W6) · Greg Dulcich 8.6 pts (W7).

🎓 The coach's read

Projections are 0.9 apart — too close to call on projection alone.
AJ Barner has the higher floor (2.3) — the safer start if you are favoured.
AJ Barner has the higher ceiling (16.1) — the play if you need points.
AJ Barner faces CHI, 15th most generous to TEs.
Michael Mayer faces NYJ, 27th most generous to TEs.

Who wins a straight-up trade?

Michael Mayer carries the higher trade value — 80 against 13 (a 84% gap). In a one-for-one, the side receiving Michael Mayer gets the most. Momentum: AJ Barner -43 and Michael Mayer +88 over the last 30 days.

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

More TE decisions

AJ Barner or Terrance Ferguson?AJ Barner or Dalton Schultz?AJ Barner or Kenyon Sadiq?Michael Mayer or Mark Andrews?Michael Mayer or Tyler Higbee?Michael Mayer or Jake Ferguson?

All numbers are the 2026 season, refreshed nightly.