LA Rams should kick tires of Free-Agent RB Peyton Barber

Why Barber and why now?

Peyton Barber is entering his prime right now. Per OverTheCap.com, he was just a $2.1 million salary-cap hit in 2019.  And with the soft running back market in 2020 NFL Free Agency so far, he may be had for an inexpensive prove-it deal estimated at $1.05 million. That’s less than a rookie selected from round two or three would expect to make.

Here is the layout of his salary cap hit from last year.

Now that we have the economics behind us, the remaining point is why him? Why not just go with the two running backs the Rams currently have?

Statistically, Barber has not had a heavy workload.  In four NFL seasons, the 5-foot-11 225-pound running back has started just 28 games. And of the estimated 5,000 available offensive snaps, he has played on just 1,345.  So he still possesses fresh legs.  In contrast, in just one more season of play, 6-foot-1 224-pound RB Todd Gurley has seen action on 3,599 plays.

While Gurley has been far more active in the passing game, Barber catches 73.1 percent of the passes thrown his way, and he scored on 2.6 percent of the passes hurled his way. That stands as a strong comparison to Gurley’s 72.4 percent completion rate, and the 4.0 percent scoring on the passes targeting him.

The only “meh” about Barber is the 3.6 YPA versus Gurley’s 4.3 YPA.