Rookie Report Card: Peyton Barber and Tyreek Hill
Each week throughout the season, I’ll cover at least two rookies in the Rookie Report Card and try to always include the biggest performers from that particular week. On top of reviewing my expectations for each player coming into the league and covering how he’s performed at the NFL level to this point, I’ll actually give him a grade in three categories. Those categories are performance to date, 2016 potential and long term upside.
The series continues with a look at a pair of rookies you may be considering as waiver adds this week, Peyton Barber and Tyreek Hill.
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Peyton Barber, RB TB
Week Seven Stats: 12 carries, 84 rushing yards, one touchdown
When Barber entered the 2016 NFL draft, I shook my head. The former Auburn Tiger had an impressive redshirt sophomore season where he ran for 1,071 yards on 238 carries (4.3 YPC) and 13 touchdowns, but appeared – at least to this novice scout that actually liked what I saw from him – to need some more time to sand the rough edges of his game before playing on Sundays.
Before getting to those rough edges however, it should be mentioned that Barber showed NFL potential at times as a Tiger.
A powerful runner, Barber showed excellent burst at the line of scrimmage and above average vision to find running lanes. With a quality jump cut and good side step, he’s able to change fields with ease to find a crease.
Once Barber gets going downhill, he shows a knack to run behind his pads and has the ability to break arm tackles in the hole or as he reaches the second level. He’s also displayed good moves around the line of scrimmage to keep defenders from squaring up on him. Always looking to stay in bounds and deliver a blow to a defender as well as fall forward rather than allowing a defender to knock him back, he consistently looks for the extra yard or two in an effort to grind on the defense.
With good vision and power to go along with enough agility to get into developing lanes, Barber proved in college to be a very successful short yardage tailback. He showed on multiple occasions he could slide through the narrowest of creases at the goal line, or even push a pile into the end zone while in college that for a score.
Despite his strengths, Barber also showed some glaring weaknesses while leading the Tigers in rushing last year.
Although he showed that he could slide from side to side effectively to find a running lane, Barber depends on his jump cut and side step too much at times. Instead of just getting square with the line of scrimmage and taking what he could when a running lane didn’t develop immediately, he’d stutter step and slide parallel to the line in the backfield far too often which would cause negative runs and put his team in long down and distances.
Also struggling at times as a perimeter runner, Barber doesn’t possess the breakaway speed to beat pursuing linebackers around the corner consistently. His 4.64 40-time was enough to break away from the pack in college but many questioned whether he had the quickness to pull away in the open field at the next level. He also had a tendency, at times, to outrun his lead blocking on the edge instead of being patient and waiting for blocks to happen.
Since going undrafted and signing with Tampa Bay, Barber made the Buccs’ roster despite averaging just 2.5 yards per attempt on 39 carries in the pre-season. Now, with Doug Martin on the sidelines due to an injured hamstring, he’s been elevated to Jacquizz Rodgers’ backup and he didn’t disappoint in week seven.
Barber reeled off an impressive 84 yards on 12 carries which included a 44-yard touchdown. Most of Barber’s damage was done while playing in garbage time but his big run for a score showed much of what he displayed regularly during his short college career.
On first-and-ten from the 44-yardline, Jameis Winston handed the ball to Barber on a dive to left. Barber accepted the handoff, immediately slid to his left to avoid nose tackle Mike Purcell in the hole, and blasted through the running lane before accelerating down the left sideline for six. The run was very well blocked and took place against the worst rush defense in the league but it was impressive nonetheless.
Overall, Barber had a nice day on Sunday. He ran with power between the tackles, hit running holes with conviction and made the most of each of his carries. If nothing else, he proved that he can be productive in a plus matchup as a change of pace back.
In the short term, Barber will continue to be the change-of-pace back in Tampa Bay as long as Martin is in street clothes and Rodgers is healthy. If Rodgers were to go down however, Barber would instantly become a factor in fantasy leagues with the potential to mirror the fantasy output of Rodgers, at least as a runner, which makes him worthy of a roster spot in almost all dynasty leagues.
As a long term prospect, it’s unclear if Barber could handle a full workload but what he showed in college suggests he’d be best as part of a committee where he’s asked to work between the tackles and in short yardage. His PPR upside is limited as he’s never displayed the ability to be a weapon as a pass catcher.
All things told, Barber has the potential to be a fantasy contributor as soon as this season so he should be rostered in all leagues. But expecting Barber to become anything more than a fill in starter is probably too aggressive for even the biggest Barber fans.
Tyreek Hill, WR KC
Week Seven Stats: two carries, 23 rushing yards, one reception, 38 yards, one touchdown (one target)
Hill entered the league as a fifth round draft pick with a shaky past but the kind of speed the coaching staffs dream about. I penned the following about him in the Kansas City Chiefs Draft Review this summer.
“Hill has one thing going for him. Speed. In fact, he may have been the fastest player in college football over the last couple years. A holder of multiple college track records, he has eye-popping quickness, elusiveness and long speed – and reportedly blazed a 4.24 second 40-yard dash at his pro day in March which would have ranked him tied for the fastest ever at the combine had he been invited.
The problem for Hill however, is that he’s never parlayed that speed into anything more than impressive return numbers on the football field.
Playing running back for Oklahoma State in 2014, he carried the ball 102 times for 534 yards (5.2 YPC) and scored one touchdown while also catching 31 passes for 281 yards (9.1 YPR) and a score. After transferring to West Alabama (after he was kicked off the Oklahoma State football team once he plead guilty to punching and choking his pregnant girlfriend) he played receiver during his senior season, catching 27 passes for 444 yards (16.4 YPR) and three scores while running 25 times for 237 yards (9.5 YPC) and a score on the ground.
As I mentioned above, Hill did a majority of his damage as a return man while in college. He averaged 24.7 yards per kick return and returned two kickoffs for touchdowns while also averaging 9.5 yards per punt return and taking another one to the house as a punt returner at Oklahoma State in 2014. At Western Alabama as a senior, he averaged 23.25 yards per kick return and 12.85 yards per punt return while taking four kicks (two punt, two kickoffs) for touchdowns.
As you can see from all the stats above, Hill profiles as a lightning quick return man that may have some upside as a gimmick player on offense. It’s way too early to see him as anything more than that however, so even if you’re scrounging for the final player on your bench in a big league with deep rosters you should keep looking.”
Let’s update those thoughts.
Hill is now splitting time as the third receiver in Kansas City despite his lack of polish as a receiver. He’s primarily being used as a gadget player on reverses but is also getting sporadic opportunities as an underneath receiver in an attempt to get him in space. In week seven, he finally got a chance to use his speed as a vertical threat.
On Sunday, Hill’s lone target of the afternoon came on first down from the Saints’ 38 yard line. Lined up wide to the left with New Orleans in off coverage, he ran a simple fly pattern. His blazing speed instantly shrunk the cushion by rookie defensive back Ken Crawley. Alex Smith heaved a rainbow down the sideline and Hill made a dazzling one-handed catch in the end zone. Crawley was lost on the play, slowing down badly as he looked back for the ball and grasping at Hill’s right arm but it didn’t faze the rookie receiver.
Overall, I’ve changed my stance slightly on Hill as a prospect. While I still believe his below average route running and hands – along with his playing with captain check down, Smith – will limit his upside early in his career, I’m not convinced that he can’t continue to develop as an all-around weapon and deep threat, and potentially elevate himself flex play consideration if he ends up in a better situation.
I realize that I ended my draft review of Hill saying he wasn’t worth the last spot on a dynasty roster but that’s no longer the case. He’s worth the stash if he’s still available.
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- League Tycoon: Dynasty Salary Cap Fantasy Football - December 15, 2023
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- 2023 NFL Scouting Combine: Offensive Player Dynasty Review - March 10, 2023
