Another day, another pair of bold predictions featuring two guys with a combined 56 career NFL touches:
(31) Kenjon Barner (N/A Positional ADP) will be a top 55 RB. Last season, the 52nd, 53rd, 54th, and 55th highest scoring fantasy RBs were Spencer Ware, Tim Hightower, Marshawn Lynch, and Carlos Hyde. All but Lynch enjoyed multiple RB1 performances. Barner will find similar success this year—and possibly more if Ryan Mathews can’t stay healthy. We already know what Mathews can and can’t do, and it’s the “can’t” (staying on the field) that opens the door for other Eagle RBs. Darren Sproles is 33 and is limited to passing-down duties. For a while this summer I’ve viewed Wendell Smallwood as a bargain backup. But injuries have kept him out of both preseason games. Meanwhile, Barner has simply looked terrific, causing some (including me) to wonder why, at 26 years old, he hasn’t yet caught on in the NFL. This will be the year he puts it all together—largely because Philly will have to turn to him eventually.
(32) Bruce Ellington (WR-70 ADP) will be a top 50 WR. Although Ellington is part of one of the NFL’s weakest passing attacks, his status as the Niners’ #2 receiver makes him a near shoe-in for top 60 WR numbers. I’ll go a step further and tag him as a frequent flex starter in 14-team, 3-WR leagues. His upside is capped whether Blaine Gabbert or Colin Kaepernick (or Jeff Driskel or Christian Ponder) are throwing to him. Yet he’s a safe WR4/5 most weeks and will give fantasy managers great trade bait whenever Ellington posts 60 yards and a score—which should happen a few times this year.
(31) Kenjon Barner (N/A Positional ADP) will be a top 55 RB. Last season, the 52nd, 53rd, 54th, and 55th highest scoring fantasy RBs were Spencer Ware, Tim Hightower, Marshawn Lynch, and Carlos Hyde. All but Lynch enjoyed multiple RB1 performances. Barner will find similar success this year—and possibly more if Ryan Mathews can’t stay healthy. We already know what Mathews can and can’t do, and it’s the “can’t” (staying on the field) that opens the door for other Eagle RBs. Darren Sproles is 33 and is limited to passing-down duties. For a while this summer I’ve viewed Wendell Smallwood as a bargain backup. But injuries have kept him out of both preseason games. Meanwhile, Barner has simply looked terrific, causing some (including me) to wonder why, at 26 years old, he hasn’t yet caught on in the NFL. This will be the year he puts it all together—largely because Philly will have to turn to him eventually.
(32) Bruce Ellington (WR-70 ADP) will be a top 50 WR. Although Ellington is part of one of the NFL’s weakest passing attacks, his status as the Niners’ #2 receiver makes him a near shoe-in for top 60 WR numbers. I’ll go a step further and tag him as a frequent flex starter in 14-team, 3-WR leagues. His upside is capped whether Blaine Gabbert or Colin Kaepernick (or Jeff Driskel or Christian Ponder) are throwing to him. Yet he’s a safe WR4/5 most weeks and will give fantasy managers great trade bait whenever Ellington posts 60 yards and a score—which should happen a few times this year.