Fantasy Upside
Peyton Barber started all 16 games last season, and not much has changed in Tampa Bay’s backfield this offseason, so we expect him to start again. Barber was serviceable last season, finishing with 963 scrimmage yards and six touchdowns. He was leaned on heavily in 2018, receiving double-digit carries in every game but two with 15+ carries in nine of his 16 starts.
Fantasy Downside
The Bucs added Andre Ellington in the offseason, but he’s not expected to be a major threat. Instead, second-year back Ronald Jones should threaten Barber’s touches in 2019. He didn’t do so as a rookie, but maybe Bruce Arians can make something out of the second-round draft pick. Even if he can’t, Barber wasn’t all that exciting in 2018. He had plenty of opportunities, but averaged 3.7 yards per carry and finished above 50 rushing yards just seven times in 16 starts.
2019 Bottom Line
While we expect Barber to start, it’s hard to imagine Jones being sidelined as much as he was a year ago. There’s just not too much to like about Barber who had the ninth-most carries in the league last year, but the 19th-most rushing yards. And he offers practically no value as a receiver as he finished with less than 100 receiving yards in 2018.