Ryan Grant vs. Marion Barber
We had a great debate about Braylon Edwards vs. Andre Johnson last week, with AJ surprisingly coming out on top 16-12.
As I hit the frantic home stretch of our first magazine (I leave for Dallas next Tuesday), you can help me with another battle: Ryan Grant vs. Marion Barber.
Barber will be a flash point for fantasy owners this year. He produced like a top-three back last year, but his limited experience and the change to Aaron Rodgers will scare some owners away. He's going to go early, but would you take him ahead of elite wideouts. More importantly, would you take him ahead of Marion Barber, who now has Felix Jones around?
Comments
I would take Barber in a re-draft and Grant in a dynasty. Both are close but I think Grant may have more long-term stability...its possible Barber could be out of Dallas in a year.
Also if anyone is interested in joining my brand new 14 team dynasty league (keep everyone from year to year) that is going to start with an auction draft email me at josh_soccerman@hotmail.com
It should be a great league, and has 100% payouts.
Posted by: J | May 5, 2008 03:42 PM
I'd take Barber, simply because he is a constant TD threat. I don't see Felix doing any more than Julius, and I don't like the potential for regression that exists in post-Favre Green Bay.
Posted by: Boesy | May 5, 2008 03:52 PM
One more thing to consider, Barber scored 10 TD's in 16 games this year with runs of:
18,1,40,1,1,5,7,20,1,5
Grant scored 8 TD's in 10 games with runs of:
30,5,62,1,6,1,66,27
So to follow up with Bob Packer Fan who disputes Grants and the Packers to run effectively in the redzone, Barber scored 70% of his TD's inside the 10 while Grant scored 50% of his.
This info doesn't necessarily argues one over the other, but probably illustrates how even they are more than anything.
Posted by: endzoneview | May 5, 2008 03:54 PM
I must add that Barber did have 2 TD's receiving last season compared to Grants zero.
Posted by: endzoneview | May 5, 2008 03:56 PM
Wow this one is close.
On the one hand you have MB3 who gained almost 1,000 yards last season playing with an absolute stiff,Julius Jones (can you tell I had to rely on Julius as my RB2 when Ronnie Brown went down?). Dallas doesn't see Barber as an every down back, they drafted Felix Jones (instead of Mendenhall) to play with Marion, so his touches might drop drastically.Barber should still get the goal line work and might continue to be the thunder to Jones' lightning.
Grant was he saviour at RB for Green Bay after they couldn't run the ball to save their lives the first 6 games of 2007.He was buried on the Giants' roster before coming to GB and now he is playing with an injury prone QB and should see more 8 man fronts at least until Rodgers burns somebody.GB is still loaded at WR, but they don't have the gunslinger to get them the ball any longer.
So tough call, but even though he plays in a tougher division, I'll go with Barber.
Posted by: CdnFan | May 5, 2008 04:06 PM
The new offensive face mask rule is really scaring me off of barber this year. I have a feeling it will either limit his effectiveness if he quits using his stiff arm to the face routine, or scarier yet, have a lot of big runs and TD's called back because he put his hand in someone's face. Until I know how he plays with this new rule, or how the refs are going to call it, I'd have to take Grant first. I'm also concerned that his punishing style, without the stiff arm to protect him will result in more injuries for him.
Posted by: John | May 5, 2008 04:24 PM
I would also add, that as of this point, Barber is in a contract year.
Some have the reasoning behind drafting Choice was if infact the Cowboys are simply going to let Barber play out this year with their current 1st and 3rd tender (Barber is restricted).
So I think if Barber does enter on a contract year, this becomes a no contest in favour of him.
Posted by: Matt | May 5, 2008 04:29 PM