What It Means:

Frank maintains that Barner "needs to have a role on offense" for the Eagles, while Pro Football Focus appears to agree, ranking the 2013 sixth-round pick as the fifth-best running back so far this postseason. The notion of Barner as the primary backup for oft-injured starter Ryan Mathews seems to make sense on paper. Darren Sproles isn't capable of taking over lead-back duties if/when Mathews goes down and rookie Wendell Smallwood, who has been sidelined for two weeks with an injury to his quad, has fallen back on the depth chart. Barner has 66 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries through two exhibition games and also provides value for Philadelphia as a pass catcher and return man.

Our models don't think it's as clear as Frank seems to suggest, projecting Barner to rush for 74 yards and 0.52 touchdowns on 18 carries, adding another 41 yards and 0.17 scores on 7 catches this season.