Barber, an exclusive rights free agent, agreed to a one-year, $630,000 contract with the Buccaneers, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Analysis: The deal is merely a formality, as Barber won't have a shot to sign elsewhere until 2019, when he'll be a restricted free agent. He currently sits atop the depth chart at running back, but it won't come as any surprise if the Bucs land an upgrade in free agency or the draft. Doug Martin was released in February, while Charles Sims is set to become an unrestricted free agent Wednesday. Barber impressively closed out last season with five straight weeks recording at least 51 rushing yards and 3.9…read more

Barber is one of the Buccaneers' top internal options to replace Doug Martin, who was released Tuesday, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: The 23-year-old Barber is technically an exclusive-rights free agent this offseason, but it's fully expected he'll be retained in 2018. Barber established career bests across the stat sheet in his second season and already displaced Martin as the top backfield option for the final five games. Despite poor blocking in front on him, Barber often proved adept at finding space while Martin failed to do so, demonstrating the power and efficiency befitting of a lead back by averaging between 4.1 and…read more

Barber rushed 17 times for 71 yards and a touchdown while also securing two of four targets for 18 yards in Sunday's 31-24 win over the Saints. He also fumbled once but recovered.

Analysis: As expected, Barber was the clear-cut lead back once again for the season finale, as Doug Martin logged just three rushes. The second-year back eclipsed 4.0 yards per carry for the fourth time in the last five contests, and his first-quarter rushing touchdown was his first since Week 12. The Auburn product demonstrated that he was aptly capable of handling lead-back duties over the final five games of the season, and as an exclusive-rights free agent heading into 2018, he's likely to enter OTAs…read more

Barber rushed 13 times for 51 yards and brought in both of his targets for four yards in Sunday's 22-19 loss to the Panthers.

Analysis: Barber once again helmed the Buccaneers backfield, despite the fact that Doug Martin was back in uniform after being made a healthy scratch Week 15. The second-year running back ran with his trademark decisiveness, but Tampa was in catch-up mode in the second half, capping his opportunities overall. Given the disparity of performance between Barber and Martin, the former appears headed for another starting assignment in the regular-season finale versus the Saints next Sunday.

Barber rushed 13 times for 53 yards and caught all three of his targets for 15 yards, but he also lost a fumble in Monday night's 24-21 defeat against the Falcons.

Analysis: Barber was handed the start in the wake of Doug Martin being deactivated, but considering he entered Monday following 40 touches the prior two weeks, his significant workload wasn't anything new. Although his 4.1 yards per carry gave him a third straight game with at least that many on average, his second-quarter fumble hurt his performance. Given his recent production, however, Barber should remain in the mix even if Martin returns for Week 16's trip to Carolina.

Starting Monday

Barber will start Monday's game versus the Falcons, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Analysis: Earlier Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN relayed Barber would take the place of Doug Martin as the primary running back for the Buccaneers. In a turn of events, though, Martin won't take the field at all Monday due to a violation of team rules. Over the past two games, Barber has tallied 35 carries for 160 yards and five catches for 46 yards, so he's a good bet to produce against an Atlanta defense that has given up 134.2 yards from scrimmage to game to running backs this season. Behind Barber,…read more

The Buccaneers are expected to have Barber in the starting lineup Monday against the Falcons, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: Getting the nod Week 13 when Doug Martin sat out due to a concussion, Barber reeled off 102 yards on 23 carries and also tacked on four receptions on as many targets for 41 yards. With Martin back in the lineup last weekend versus the Lions, Barber outgained Martin, 63 to 50, in yards from scrimmage, which may have been precipitated by Martin's second-quarter fumble. On this occasion, expect Barber to handle most of the running back reps, but Martin likely will pick up a handful of touches.

Exact Week 15 role unclear

The Buccaneers do not plan on naming a clear-cut starter between Barber and Doug Martin for Monday night's game against the Falcons, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Analysis: Barber was impressive for a second consecutive game in Week 14 against the Lions, taking the reins of the Buccaneers' backfield in the second half and finishing with 58 yards on 12 carries. That tally came on the heels of a career-best 23-carry, 102-yard effort in Week 13, a contest in which Barber served as the clear-cut lead back when Martin was out with a concussion. With Tampa playing out the string at 4-9, head coach Dirk Koetter appears perfectly willing to ride whomever has the hot hand…read more

Barber rushed 12 times for 58 yards and brought in his only target for five yards in Sunday's 24-21 loss to the Lions.

Analysis: Although he officially began the game as Doug Martin's backup, Barber ended up outpacing the latter in rushing touches and was much more successful in finding running room. The second-year back has consistently been able to garner positive gains in the rush game in contrast to Martin, who despite scoring a touchdown averaged fewer than 3.0 yards per rush for the fourth time in the last five games Sunday and lost a fumble. Given Barber's continued success and the Buccaneers' spiraling season, it…read more

Barber is expected to settle back into a reserve role Sunday against the Lions with Doug Martin in line to start the contest, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Analysis: While Martin was in the concussion protocol and ultimately held out of the Buccaneers' Week 13 loss to the Packers, Barber took over lead-back duties and delivered an excellent outing, amassing 102 yards on the ground and snagging four passes for 41 yards. That performance shouldn't result in him falling out of head coach Dirk Koetter's game plan entirely in Week 14, though Barber's path to touches is certainly less clear with Martin back in the fold. If Martin, who has been under four yards…read more

Barber rushed 23 times for 102 yards and brought in all four of his targets for 41 yards in Sunday's 26-20 overtime loss to the Packers.

Analysis: Announced as the lead back shortly before kickoff, Barber made the most of Doug Martin's absence with a concussion. The second-year back posted the first 100-yard rushing effort of his career and also led the Bucs in receptions and receiving yards. Barber's performance validated head coach Dirk Koetter's decision, and he looked considerably more adept than Martin has at finding running lanes to hit. Given his performance Sunday, it's fair to at least contemplate a much more equal division of…read more

Garners starting nod Sunday

The Buccaneers are planning to start Barber at running back Sunday against the Packers, Adam Caplan of SiriusXM Radio reports.

Analysis: It's expected that head coach Dirk Koetter will sprinkle fellow running backs Jacquizz Rodgers and Charles Sims liberally into the game plan while normal lead back Doug Martin (concussion) is sidelined, but Barber looks like the leading candidate to pace the group in touches. Though he only gained seven yards on five carries in last week's loss to the Falcons, he punched in two of his totes for touchdowns, impressing the Bucs' brass with his power between the tackles. His upside is fairly…read more

With Doug Martin (concussion) ruled out for Sunday's game against the Packers, Barber could step into a more sizable role, FloridaFootballInsiders.com reports.

Analysis: Though Barber secured his first two touchdowns of the season in the Week 12 loss to the Falcons, he managed a meager seven yards on five carries, a level of efficiency that wouldn't seem to merit a longer look. Barber's season-long mark of 2.9 yards per carry isn't much more impressive, but his youth -- he's 23 years old -- may work in his favor, as he would seemingly have more untapped upside for the 4-7 Buccaneers to try and mine than the 27-year-old Jacquizz Rodgers. Charles Sims will be…read more

Barber rushed five times for seven yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 34-20 loss to the Falcons.

Analysis: The reserve running back made the most of his limited opportunities, cashing in with a pair of short touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters. Barber saw extra snaps in the red zone with Doug Martin (concussion) exiting the game in the first half, and he could be in line for an expanded workload again in Week 13 versus the Packers if Martin is unable to recover in time for the contest.

Barber secured both of his targets for 11 yards in Sunday's 30-20 win over the Dolphins.

Analysis: Barber logged only three snaps on offense but made the most of them, logging a pair of catches for the second time in the last three contests. The second-year Auburn product saw a season-high 11 carries in Week 9 against the Saints, but given that he's notched just a pair of totes in the subsequent two games, it appears his role in the ground game is nowhere near reliable at the moment. As a result, Barber's fantasy value is currently non-existent.

Barber lost two yards on two rushes in Sunday's 15-10 win over the Jets.

Analysis: One week after leading the Buccaneers' backfield in rushes with 11, Barber saw only seven snaps, while Doug Martin (36 snaps) and Charles Sims (22 snaps) handled the majority of the work. To an extent, head coach Dirk Koetter appears to be open to tweaking the makeup of the rushing attack in an attempt to jump-start a largely moribund offense, but he still understandably seems to have a distinct preference for Doug Martin as his lead back in non-blowout scenarios. Barber's role thus remains…read more

Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter suggested that Barber, who logged a season-high 11 carries for 34 yards in Sunday's 30-10 loss to the Saints, could see an expanded role Week 10 against the Jets, Roy Cummings of FloridaFootballInsiders.com reports. "Yeah, we are going to consider everything,'" Koetter said Monday, when asked if Barber was in store for an increased workload. "Peyton did do a good job of breaking tackles and running after first contact [on Sunday]."

Analysis: Starting running back Doug Martin had an impressive showing in his season debut Week 5 against the Patriots (13 carries, 74 yards and a touchdown), but he's struggled mightily ever since, averaging just 3.0 yards per tote in 60 carries the past four contests. Koetter limited Martin to just 18 snaps in Week 9 with the back gaining just seven yards on eight handoffs, affording Barber a longer look. While his efficiency wasn't outstanding, Barber still bested Martin's production while playing…read more

Barber rushed 11 times for 34 yards and secured two of three targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 30-10 loss to the Saints.

Analysis: Barber surprisingly ended up helming the Bucs backfield in the blowout loss, as head coach Dirk Koetter ultimately benched an ineffective Doug Martin (eight rushes, seven yards). Barber was serviceable in his rookie 2016 campaign while filling in when the Tampa running back corps succumbed to multiple injuries, rushing for 223 yards while averaging 4.1 yards per tote. He's not likely to supplant Martin as the lead back anytime soon, but with the team's season quickly slipping away, Koetter may…read more

Barber rushed for two yards on two carries in Sunday's 25-23 win over the Giants.

Analysis: The carries were Barber's first touches since Week 2's blowout win over Chicago. Barber saw the field for just four of Tampa Bay's 64 offensive plays, good for third among Tampa Bay's backs. The stable is about to get more crowded. With Doug Martin activated off of the suspension list, it is possible that Barber might not even be active in Thursday's tilt against New England.

Barber carried 10 times for 47 yards in Sunday's 29-7 win over the Bears.

Analysis: Barber saw all 16 of his snaps in the second half and made the most of them, posting the second-highest rushing total of his career. The 23-year-old saw five less snaps than backfield mate Charles Sims behind starter Jacquizz Rodgers, but he received eight more carries. However, it's noteworthy that unbalanced distribution came in a game in which the Bucs held a comfortable second-half lead, which eliminated some of the passing-down situations that Sims is often utilized in. Barber is still…read more

Barber rushed six times for 23 yards in Thursday's 13-10 preseason loss to the Redskins.

Analysis: Barber played a modest 16 snaps, but that appeared to be more of a function of the Bucs wanting to see plenty of both Russell Hansbrough and fifth-round pick Jeremy McNichols, who is reportedly on the roster bubble. Barber saw plenty of action throughout the preseason and has a season of game tape under his belt, so he looks to be in relatively solid shape for a spot on the final roster.

Barber (undisclosed) rushed five times for six yards and brought in four of seven targets for 27 yards in Saturday's 13-9 preseason loss to the Browns.

Analysis: The reserve running back once again found a way to make his case for a potential spot on the 53-man roster. Through three exhibitions, Barber has logged 22 carries for 69 yards, with Saturday's receptions serving as his first of the preseason. Barber's overall reliability, familiarity with the offense and ability to play special teams could all tip the scales in his favor when it comes to final cuts.

Barber is not taking part in Saturday's practice for an undisclosed reason, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Analysis: No particular reason has been given at this time for Barber's lack of participation during Saturday's practice. That said, there's no indication that he's suffered a serious injury. He put together a solid effort during Thursday's matchup against the Jaguars, rushing for 42 yards on nine carries, making a case for a roster spot.

Barber totaled nine rushes for 42 yards in Thursday's 12-8 preseason win over the Jaguars.

Analysis: Barber made an impressive case for a roster spot with Thursday's effort, one that saw him log carries on six of the Bucs' first seven plays of the second half. After an extensive drive by the Jaguars that consumed over eight minutes, Barber then notched his remaining three rushes on the team's second and final possession of the period. Barber's work in camp practices combined with his production through two exhibitions (17 carries for 63 yards) certainly have him trending in the right direction…read more

Barber rushed eight times for 21 yards in Friday's 23-12 preseason loss to the Bengals.

Analysis: The 2016 undrafted free agent had been expected to see plenty of work Friday night, and that prognostication proved to be accurate. Barber's carry total led the Tampa backfield, and he notably entered the game alongside Charles Sims after Doug Martin and Jacquizz Rodgers had gotten their work in for the evening. Despite a solid showing in a rookie season during which he beat the odds to even make the active roster -- and the fact the Bucs will be without Martin (suspension) for the first three…read more

Barber is likely to see plenty of snaps in Friday's preseason opener versus the Bengals, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.

Analysis: After bucking the odds to make the roster a summer ago, Barber comes into the preseason opener as the likely favorite to secure a fourth running back spot if the Bucs opt to keep that many at the position to open the season. The fact that Doug Martin (suspension) will sit out the first three contests of the campaign increases the odds of the team stockpiling ball carriers, but the undrafted Barber will also need to prove his mettle on special teams again in order to force the coaching staff's…read more

Barber turned in positive plays through both the ground and air in Saturday's practice, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Analysis: Barber showed off some nice wiggle on a scamper during the run period of practice and also made a tough catch at the goal line off the arm of backup signal caller Ryan Griffin later in the session. The 2016 undrafted free agent is battling the odds once again to stick on the roster, although Doug Martin's guaranteed absence for the first three games of 2017 -- and Barber's solid body of work last season -- would figure to significantly improve his chances .

Barber could see extra work during the first three games of the regular season while Doug Martin finishes serving his suspension, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

Analysis: First, Barber must overcome the uphill battle that earning a roster spot at running back figures to be, although Martin's absence for the first three games -- and the fact that only Russell Hansbrough and Blake Sims are currently behind him -- naturally bumps up his chances. The 22-year-old flashed on a couple of occasions in the passing game during Sunday's practice and has also drawn praise from head coach Dirk Koetter for his work ethic and power running, but his protection on third down is…read more

Barber finished the 2016 season with 55 carries for 223 yards and a touchdown along with five receptions (on six targets) for 28 yards over 15 games.

Analysis: The undrafted rookie from Auburn bucked the odds in 2016, heading to the practice squad after a solid preseason and then receiving a promotion to the active roster in advance of the regular season opener. Barber logged 45 special teams snaps in Weeks 1, 3, and 4 before seeing his first work from scrimmage in Week 5 against the Panthers, after hamstring and knee injuries had felled Doug Martin and Charles Sims, respectively. The 22-year-old went on to see double-digit totes in three contests…read more

Barber gained 19 yards on five rushes in Sunday's 17-16 win over the Panthers.

Analysis: The rookie played the complementary back role behind Jacquizz Rodgers with both Doug Martin (suspension) and Charles Sims (pectoral) unavailable, doing a serviceable job while touching the ball for the first time since Week 13. With the team's running back situation in a state of uncertainty due to Martin's issues, Barber will head into the offseason with a fighting chance of sticking on the roster in 2017.

Barber is in line to serve as the primary back-up to starting tailback Jacquizz Rodgers in Sunday's Week 17 tilt versus the Panthers, following the placement of Charles Sims on injured reserve Wednesday.

Analysis: The undrafted rookie has performed admirably this season in his limited opportunities, tallying 204 yards on 50 carries (4.1 YPC) with one touchdown, while also notching five receptions for 28 yards. Barber saw double-digit carries in three different contests earlier in the campaign amidst a slew of running back injuries for the Bucs, but wouldn't figure to get that much work Sunday against the Panthers, as starter Jacquizz Rodgers has demonstrated an ability to handle an ample workload when…read more