Marion Barber: First round sleeper pick

Sure, you’ll giggle like a high school cheerleader if you get your league’s number one pick overall and are able to snag LT. But suppose you get stuck drafting late in the round, when LT is LG (long gone) and Adrian Peterson is carrying the rock for somebody else. If that happens, it’s time to go to the Barber…Marion Barber. He’s low-hanging fruit, typically placed at number 10-15 as a running back, but that’s way, way too low. Here’s why. Barber has been brilliantly productive the last two seasons (4.8 average, 24 touchdowns, no fumbles), despite being constrained by the Cowboys’ tandem running back arrangement He’s primed to hit high gear this season as the feature back. Sure, first-rounder Felix Jones will get to sniff the ball, but Barber is the guy. Look for big yards and plenty of TDs from number 24, who scores from short yardage like Tiger holes putts from two feet. Barber has the confidence of Tony Romo, the coaching staff and Jerry Jones, as evidenced by the only thing that may slow Barber down or tire him out this year: the strain of carrying all his contract loot to the bank. Barber will pocket some 45 million clams over 7 years, with 16 million guaranteed. With numbers like that, you better believe the Cowboys expect him to earn every dime on ever offensive play of every game. Your fellow owners may snap at perpetual underachiever Frank Gore. Or maybe Joseph Addai, destined to try getting a hand-off from Peyton as the QB pivots late on a sore knee. Forget the hype of those pretenders. Go with the smart move: go with Marion Barber as a high first round choice. --Scout Tex