Week 13 vs Cincinnati
Targeted 11 times on Monday night, Gary Barnidge turned in another nice performance, catching seven passes for 91 yards. One of the most surprising performers in the history of fantasy football, Barnidge has seven touchdowns and is averaging five receptions and 68.9 yards per game.
However, a season-ending injury to quarterback Josh McCown could mean trouble for Barnidge. Barnidge has not clicked as well with Johnny Manziel, who may still emerge as Cleveland’s starter down the stretch, and it remains to be seen if he will have a good rapport with current starter Austin Davis. Earlier this year, Cincinnati held Barnidge to two catches for 35 yards in a game McCown missed. Gary has earned the benefit of the doubt and is still a solid TE1 for this week, but his future may not be as bright as his recent past.
Week 12 vs Baltimore
Back in Week 10 before Cleveland’s bye, Gary Barnidge hauled in six passes for 65 yards and Cleveland’s only touchdown in a 30-9 loss to Pittsburgh. It was the first time Barnidge and Johnny Manziel clicked, which was good news given Manziel was projected to be the starter for the Browns the rest of the season.
However, if you have Barnidge on your team, you would rather have great news than just merely good news. And great news came in the form of a demotion for Manziel as Juvenile Delinquent Johnny once again put partying ahead of studying his playbook. Barnidge has lit up the stat sheet with Josh McCown, with the duo already having success against Baltimore. Back in Week 5, McCown threw for 457 yards in a victory over the Ravens, with Barnidge catching eight passes for 139 yards and a touchdown. Barnidge will threaten for overall TE1 supremacy in Week 12 and must be started.
Week 10 at Pittsburgh
Since Week 3, Gary Barnidge had been Superman in the eyes of many fantasy owners. Unfortunately, kryptonite in the form of Johnny Manziel destroyed Barnidge last Thursday night in Cincinnati. Barnidge caught two passes for 35 yards, his lowest output since Week 2, when he had just one reception. Coincidentally, Week 2 was the only other time Manziel had started this year for the Browns.
So fantasy owners have to cross their fingers Josh McCown gets back into the lineup this week. McCown is not exactly one of the NFL’s all-time greats, but he and Barnidge have great chemistry. While Barnidge has built up enough good will among fantasy owners to be a TE1 regardless of whether McCown or Manziel is the starter, his upside would be much, much higher with McCown.
Week 9 at Cincinnati
Rapidly becoming the brightest light on another bumbling Browns team, Gary Barnidge hauled in seven passes for 53 yards and a touchdown in Week 8 as Cleveland lost 34-20 to Arizona. Since Week 3, Barnidge has scored a touchdown in all but one game and has exceeded 100 yards three times. His presence has become mandatory at any and all TE1 parties.
However, with Johnny Manziel’s probable insertion into the lineup, there may be some reason for concern. During the first two weeks of the season, when Manziel either started or saw extensive playing time due to Josh McCown suffering a concussion, Barnidge had just four receptions for 55 yards and no touchdowns. By no means would we recommend benching Barnidge (who remains a mandatory starter in all formats), but Manziel’s presence could limit Gary’s upside more than usual.
Week 8 vs. Arizona
After scoring at least one touchdown in four straight games, Gary Barnidge was held out of the end zone last Sunday as the Browns suffered a 24-6 thrashing at the hands of St. Louis. However, Barnidge remained productive for fantasy owners, catching six passes for 101 yards.
Speaking of yardage, that route will probably be the best way for Barnidge to keep his hot streak going this weekend as Arizona has not given up a touchdown to a tight end all season. However, the Cardinals will probably use ace cornerback Patrick Peterson on wide receiver Travis Benjamin, which could translate to lots of targets for Gary out of necessity. Even in a potentially difficult tussle, Barnidge is a TE1.
Week 7 at St. Louis
The number one folk hero in fantasy football, Gary Barnidge, was held to three receptions last Sunday by a potent Denver defense. But Barnidge made them count, as two of his catches went for touchdowns. After being quiet in the first two games of the season, Barnidge has 23 receptions for 358 yards and five touchdowns.
Gary's run of glory will be put to the test against a stingy St. Louis defense. The Rams have yielded just five touchdown passes, and Seattle’s Jimmy Graham is the only tight end who has scored against St. Louis. However, in an era where top tight ends are hard to find in fantasy, Barnidge has earned TE1 status and needs to be in your lineup.
Week 6 vs Denver
Perhaps the most unlikely breakout performer in fantasy football history, Gary Barnidge put up huge numbers again in Week 5, catching eight passes for 139 yards. He also scored a touchdown on one of the most remarkable receptions anyone will ever see. It was the third consecutive game in which Barnidge made his way to the end zone.
The Broncos are capable of ending Gary’s hot streak. This is a team that has held opponents to three touchdown passes through five games, and none of those touchdowns have gone to a tight end. On top of that, Denver has 22 sacks and seven interceptions. Denver may not have DeMarcus Ware this weekend, but Von Miller and others could force Barnidge to block a little more than usual. Nonetheless, until Barnidge slows down, there is no compelling reason not to consider him as a TE1.
Week 5 at Baltimore
The unbelievable emergence of Gary Barnidge continued in Week 4. Barnidge hauled in six passes for 75 yards and a score, helping Cleveland secure a moral victory over San Diego. Over the past two weeks, the 30-year old out of Louisville has 12 receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns. He has gone from being unknown on the waiver wire to highly visible.
But will a Baltimore fog reduce Barnidge’s visibility? The Ravens have been very unfriendly to tight ends. Cincinnati’s emerging Tyler Eifert had his worst game of the season against the Ravens, while Baltimore held Pittsburgh’s Heath Miller to one yard in Week 4. At one of fantasy football’s weakest positions, Barnidge has earned low-end TE1 status thanks to his recent heroics, but the bubble could burst on Sunday.
Week 4 at San Diego
Until last week, Gary Barnidge was one of the most anonymous players in the NFL. The 30-year old out of Louisville had been drafted by Carolina back in 2008 and headed into the 2015 season with only 44 career receptions. Out of nowhere, Barnidge caught six passes for 105 yards and a touchdown in Week 3.
There may be a simple reason for Barnidge’s breakout performance. He was playing the Oakland Raiders. While Oakland is a team on the rise, they have been embarrassingly vulnerable to tight ends. Cincinnati’s Tyler Eifert and Baltimore’s Crockett Gilmore also had plenty of fun against the Raiders, with that duo combining for four touchdowns against the Silver and Black. San Diego has given up touchdowns to Eifert and Detroit’s Eric Ebron, but held Minnesota’s Kyle Rudolph in check last Sunday. While Barnidge has a role in Cleveland’s offense and seems to have a rapport with Josh McCown, the odds of him suddenly becoming a fantasy star are slim. He should not be started this week.
There were differing opinions when the Cleveland Browns let tight end Jordan Cameron sign with the Miami Dolphins. One side believed Cameron was too susceptible to injuries, while the other side could not believe the Browns were letting the only non-suspended receiving option on their roster with star potential get away without a fight. Cleveland signed Rob Housler to take over for Cameron, but he has been a disappointment so far. That leaves veteran Gary Barnidge atop the depth chart, at least for now. Can Barnidge help Cleveland fill the void?
Fantasy Upside
With Cleveland’s inept general manager Ray Farmer opting to build around a vagabond group of wide receivers, any tight end who suits up for the Browns has a shot at catching passes. If Housler is cut (which has been rumored), Barnidge offers a little more as a receiver than Jim Dray, the other holdover from last year who is valued primarily as a blocker.
Fantasy Downside
Given he was drafted back in 2008, Barnidge should be commended for still being in the NFL. Not many people can say they lasted that long in the league. He seems to be a good guy in the locker room, but his track record on the field is terrible. He has 44 career receptions, and even with Cleveland desperate for help, the 29-year-old is not the answer.
Bottom Line
At some point in the middle of the season, you will need a tight end due to injury or bye week. You will see Barnidge’s name, and you should then proceed to put in a waiver claim for someone else.
