The Philadelphia Eagles made plenty of additions to the roster this offseason especially to the running back position. After parting ways with LeSean McCoy, the Eagles first signed Ryan Mathews to a multi-year contract before landing DeMarco Murray from the Dallas Cowboys. Those additions have put Darren Sproles' role with the team into question and now the rise of another player could really knock him down the depth chart as fantasy owners begin to wonder what his impact will be in 2015.
Last season, Sproles was critical to the Eagles' season as he remained a dynamic threat on the field. The running back worked as both a rusher and receiver, turning into fantasy gold. However, this year could look much different. With Murray and Mathews battling for more carries as the main running backs, the rise of Kenjon Barner is also a factor against Sproles. According to CSNPhilly.com, Barner has been excelling in training camp as the running back gives all the credit to Sproles for helping him grow.
"It gives you drive, man," Barner said, via CSNPhilly.com. "You want to play. You don't get to the NFL to sit down and watch other guys play, so it puts a chip on your shoulder. It also enabled me to learn under (Darren) Sproles, learn under (LeSean) McCoy, learn under those guys, and they taught me a lot. So it helped me develop much more as a football player and helped me take my game to another level."
Team sources believe Barner could be a secret weapon for the Eagles, the role Sproles held last year. So what happens to the veteran? Sproles told the media that head coach Chip Kelly made it clear his role with the team would not be changing, but that is hard to believe considering the talent at the position. Kelly insisted the Eagles actually want Sproles on the field more in 2015 than in 2014.
"It's year two for him, so I think he feels really comfortable in terms of what our running backs are doing," Kelly said, via Philly.com. "So we are just kind of cross-training him like we do some other guys in terms of how do we get our best players on the field and put them in different situations."
Other players fighting for more field time include Riley Cooper who continues to combat rumors that he will be released this season. According to NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal, Cooper is at risk of getting released while his contract states otherwise. Cooper is not going anywhere, but his impact on the field could easily be a lot smaller. The Eagles are counting on the duo of Jordan Matthews and Nelson Agholor to get them by while Josh Huff is favored as the third receiver and Sproles sees time at the position as well. Any fantasy owners hoping for a big year from Cooper might be wise to look at other options.