Is Barlow overrated?

[mig28]

I'm wondering why he's being taken as a #2 RB in a good number of MDs. Most all of the skill position players around him from last season are gone, and Rattay will probably miss training camp. He's never really borne the load for a full season; now, he's quite possibly their only weapon.
I can't see why he's getting the nod in owner's minds, and I think that if he were really the kind of guy that could carry the offense on his back, he would have been the unquestioned starter before now. I will admit that I was looking forward to seeing him as "the guy" before the team was dessimated; opposing defenses can now gear up to stop him first.
What am I missing here?

[moochman]

The 9ers put up a ton of yards from their RBs last season. If they can come up with another threat besides Barlow I see no reason why he shouldn't do well. I am having a hard time visualizing that other threat right now.

[Mercer Boy]

The main reason I picked him in our mock (last pick of the second round) as my #2 was because he is the unquestioned starer. There are a lot of guys that have question marks as to possible time splitters behind them this year. Henry has McGahee, Davis has Foster, Westbrooke has Buckhalter, Bennett has Smith, etc. etc. He was the only guy left besides Barber and CMart that didn't have a hitch. So, I figured he would at least get the ball a ton of times and should put up some numbers. I mean, someone has to score their points, right???

OK, this is going to be a bad comparison due to skill levels involved, but what does LT have in SD besides himself? Not a whole lot, but he's still one of the top backs in fantasy this year. Here's a more even comparison - Barlow and Rudi are about equal in what they came in and did last year IMO, and Rudi is also being pegged as a #2 back in most drafts...

Here's my basic thought process - if I have to start two backs, I want two backs that are in the whole game except maybe 3rd and longs. Barlow is going to be one of those people - hence I'm taking him before someone else does. I'm not getting stuck with a RBBC

[mig28]

The main reason I picked him in our mock (last pick of the second round) as my #2 was because he is the unquestioned starer. There are a lot of guys that have question marks as to possible time splitters behind them this year. Henry has McGahee, Davis has Foster, Westbrooke has Buckhalter, Bennett has Smith, etc. etc. He was the only guy left besides Barber and CMart that didn't have a hitch. So, I figured he would at least get the ball a ton of times and should put up some numbers. I mean, someone has to score their points, right???

OK, this is going to be a bad comparison due to skill levels involved, but what does LT have in SD besides himself? Not a whole lot, but he's still one of the top backs in fantasy this year. Here's a more even comparison - Barlow and Rudi are about equal in what they came in and did last year IMO, and Rudi is also being pegged as a #2 back in most drafts...

Here's my basic thought process - if I have to start two backs, I want two backs that are in the whole game except maybe 3rd and longs. Barlow is going to be one of those people - hence I'm taking him before someone else does. I'm not getting stuck with a RBBC

Tomlinson is exactly who I was thinking of with regard to "carrying the offense"; Barlow is going to be in a very similar situation to Tomlinson, but LT is special because he does it with ease.
I strongly agree with having, as a prerequisite, an unquestioned #1 as an FF back, and Barlow is certainly that. It will be interesting to see if he can hold up and produce, given the circumstances.

[pmac_03]

i wouldnt say hes overrated because no one has ever rated him ... 'overly'. he is a decent back and did well last year with what little he had to work with.

[goleafsgo96]

Its all about being the unquestioned starter. When you are a guaranteed starting RB, you have fantasy value.

[CC]

Barlow is a good back who should have a sold year yardage wise with about 7 or 8 TDs because he has no talent around him on offence. He is less overrated than Domanick Davis and Rudi Johnson in my mind.

[Da GM]

In my rankings, I have him as my #11-12 RB, and #12-13 overall. I see no reason why he shouldn't be a great #2 RB, even a #1 RB if you're really desparate. I have him behind:

LT
Priest
Portis
Deuce
Ahman
J-Lew
Shaun
Ricky
Edge
Fragile Fred
R Moss
Faulk/Barlow (Tied IMO)

[Canacuna]

I don't think I've ever held Kevan Barlow in that high of regard. I've always kind of steered clear of him in any drafts I've been in over the years. Every year, it seemed he was bound to breakout and take the starting job away from Garrison Hearst - an old, nearly crippled, RB. Every year, Barlow failed to do so - at best managing a RBBC out of the situation. It wasn't until Hearst was injured (and the 49ers faced average at best defenses during that time) that Barlow was given the job. I'll give him a year to see how he does before getting my hopes up on him.

Here's Canacuna's rankings of the top twenty RBs (in parenthesis, the ranking I submitted to KingGhidra in February for his Cafe averages).

1. Priest Holmes (1)
2. LaDainian Tomlinson (2)
3. Ahman Green (4)
4. Clinton Portis (3)
5. Shaun Alexander (5)
6. Deuce McAllister (6)
7. Ricky Williams (8)
8. Jamal Lewis (7)
9. Edgerrin James (10)
10. Marshall Faulk (11)
11. Fred Taylor (9)
12. Domanick Davis (13)
13. Corey Dillon (18)
14. Stephen Davis (15)
15. Rudi Johnson (14)
16. Travis Henry (12)
17. Michael Bennett (20)
18. Kevan Barlow (16)
19. Marcel Shipp (19)
20. Curtis Martin (22)

DROPPED OUT OF TOP TWENTY: Tiki Barber (prev. 17)

[hwkyetkd11]

Wow Cacacuna I completely agre ewith ur current rankings. First rankings I have agreed with completely. Barlow has nothing to draw defenses off him an dhe ha snever proven he can hold upa fulll year. He is posibly a stud in the making, but will be a year or two. Also D. Davis ha sno competition, he is the starter.