Stock up, stock down from the first week

Barnes is moving from the off-ball LB role he’s played for the last couple of seasons into being the primary SAM backer. That SAM spot more closely aligns with what Barnes played in college at Purdue, a stand-up pass rusher with some chip and short-range coverage responsibilities. Barnes has received nearly all the first-team reps at the SAM, a spot where the usage volume is increasing. It could be a chicken/egg situation with Barnes, who has been very impressive in the role–enough that it doesn’t even feel like a competition anymore.