Ronde Barber

The wheels seemingly have to fall off any second now, but the 36-year-old Barber just won’t go away. Every year conventional wisdom sticks a fork in him, and every year he comes back and starts 16 games. With three straight seasons of at least 75 tackles, including 82 (66 solo) in 2010, it seems like Barber still has enough to keep the show going a bit longer. In Tampa’s Cover-2 scheme, he’ll remain in position to post IDP-worthy stops while making the occasional big play in coverage.

Barber's amazing career is on the downside now, and 2010 may be his last season. Barber did manage 77 tackles, six passes defensed, 2.0 sacks, and two forced fumbles in 2009 but did not have any interceptions. Expect similar numbers at best in 2010.

The “Tampa 2” system asks cornerbacks to play closer to the line in run support while safeties play further back to defend against the long pass. That makes Cover 2 cornerbacks far more valuable in IDP leagues – and if you look up “Cover 2 cornerback” in the football dictionary, you’ll find a picture of Ronde Barber. Barber is 34 – which is about 96 in cornerback years – but he continues to produce highly respectable numbers 73 tackles, four interceptions and two sacks in 2008, and at least one touchdown in five of the last six seasons. In IDP leagues that require a cornerback, Barber is an ideal selection.

Barber's IDP value took a hit in 2007, but he will still be in the starting lineup for a talented Bucs' defense and should have no problem putting up fantasy worthy numbers.

Barber's statistics are amazing enough. He has played nine consecutive years without missing a game and over that span has never dipped below 71 total tackles or at least two interceptions per season. His total tackles the last four seasons have been 97, 98, 99 and 98. Last year was the first year in nine seasons without a sack. With so many tackles to spread over a season, he has very few empty games, recording three games with double-digit tackles last year. Amazing, but here's the kicker: these are linebackers stats, not to mention safety-caliber numbers, but Barber is a cornerback, the least likely of the three positions to be so productive. In Tampa Bay's cover 2 scheme, the aggressive, hard-hitting Barber can release receivers to the safeties and play run support. He's not blazingly fast but is extremely fluid and consistent. When given an opportunity, he makes the play and is one of the game’s best blitzing cornerbacks. Don’t count on him taking two picks to the house again this year, but it’s worth noting that he’s scored eight touchdowns in his 10-year career.

It’s hard enough for cornerbacks to be statistically productive, especially good ones, given the lack of tackle opportunities typical for the position and the fickle nature of interceptions they often need to be fantasy worthy. That Barber has been a good play, if not top 5 among defensive backs, for eight consecutive years while playing such an athletically demanding position is phenomenal. The key is playing in a Cover 2 defense. Corners are only responsible for short and intermediate-length routes before giving up vertical routes to safeties, so that Barber never having great speed or burst wasn’t a problem. Losing speed with age also hasn’t effected his production. Rather, he makes his wage on aggressive, physical play and excellent anticipation. Cover 2 corners are responsible for outside runs and short routes in their zone from non-wideouts so they get more tackle chances than corners in other systems. With the instincts to read plays, Barber was made for this. He’s logged 83 solo tackles two years in a row thanks to being in position to support the run in addition to his coverage duties. Barring his rookie year, in which he played only one game, Barber has always made at least one sack, with a career-high 5.5 in 2000. He’s also never failed to make two picks or more, topping out at an impressive 10 in 2001. This is the perfect marriage between system, player and fantasy owner.

With the safety net of Tampa Bay’s Cover 2 defense, Barber is able to let his natural aggressiveness take over on rushes, jump balls and run-support. A fantastic open-field tackler, he’s normally in the upper 60s and low 70s in solos each year. Three times in his eight seasons, he’s had more sacks than picks, while last year he had three of each. Not blessed with superior speed or size, he simply has excellent technical skills, timing and know-how. He’s played 16 games in every year since his rookie season and has snagged at least two picks in each of those full seasons. Expect at least 10 passes defended.

He'll be a regular at corner for the Bucs, which means he'll always be a threat to pick off passes.

After a 10-interception season in 2001, Barber came back down to earth in that department, picking off a modest two in 2002. Still, he had 62 solo tackles, three sacks and 20 passes defensed. With opposing QBs feeling the heat from Simeon Rice and Warren Sapp, Barber should have the opportunity to make more plays this season. Barber had his knee scoped last February, but is expected to be 100 percent for training camp.