Kenjon Barner, RB Carolina Panthers Fantasy Football Rookie Spotlight
Byron Lambert, Rosterwatch.com

Photo via Kenjon Barner Twitter

Height: 5’9″
Weight: 196 Pounds
40-Time: 4.52
Drafted: 6th Round (Carolina Panthers)

Scouting Report:

Kenjon Barner is known for the home run ability he demonstrated at the University of Oregon. He can hit the cutback and he can catch the ball but he’s not particularly nifty. We expected him to shine at the Senior Bowl and he was invisible most of the week.

Maybe the answer lies in the 40-time he posted in Indy. 4.52 is pedestrian for an undersized big-play guy. The silver lining is that Barner tested well in all of the other Combine exercises- showing strength, explosion, and lateral agility.

It was this scouting roller coaster that precipitated his slide in the NFL Draft. Kenjon Barner is perceived as a complimentary committee back who can also contribute on special teams. He was drafted accordingly. While not dynamic, he adds a nice element of youth and play-making ability to an aging backfield in Carolina.

Fantasy Analysis:

Barring injury or trade, Kenjon Barner will be splitting RB3/4 duties on the Panthers depth chart with last year’s big free agent running-back acquisition Mike Tolbert. Right now, both are firmly entrenched behind Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams for touches out of the backfield.

If these circumstances prevail it will be very difficult to buy much Barner rookie stock in redraft leagues. He could be a late round flier in deep leagues, or more appropriately, a “watch-list”/handcuff option. With Stewart and Williams both signed to healthy contracts through 2017, Barner loses some appeal in short-term keeper leagues. Rolling the dice on late-round rookie value in Dynasty formats is an acceptable strategy.