The Pewter Plank
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 3 most under-appreciated players

By Cory Kinnan

GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 18: Offensive guard Ali Marpet #74 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the sidelines during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 18, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Buccaneers 40-7. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 18: Offensive guard Ali Marpet #74 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the sidelines during the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 18, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Buccaneers 40-7. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 23: Peyton Barber #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stiff arms Chidobe Awuzie #24 of the Dallas Cowboys on a carry in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – DECEMBER 23: Peyton Barber #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stiff arms Chidobe Awuzie #24 of the Dallas Cowboys on a carry in the third quarter at AT&T Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

RB Peyton Barber

Peyton Barber failed to hit 1,000 yards rushing last year and averaged less than four yard per carry in 2018, but in all fairness he was running straight into a brick wall on most of his attempts. Under new head coach Bruce Arians and his new blocking scheme, Barber may be on the way to a breakout year.

An undrafted rookie out of Auburn, Barber was signed by the Buccaneers and has since started 21 games, including all 16 in 2019. Barber is a grinder on the field, and all of his hard work tends to be minimized due to his lack of production on the field, which is, again, partly not his fault.

Barber, too, was graded as an above average starter with a score of 67.2 according to PFF, showing his ability to be in the right place or make the right reads, even if the blocking in front of him breaks down. He re-signed with the Bucs on a one year deal for just over $1 million this offseason, and he could turn out to be a massive bargain.

It would not be a shock for Barber to burst over 1,000 yards in 2019 and inch closer to double-digit touchdowns. Appreciate him now, Bucs fans, because he could be gone after his contract expires after the season.

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