Kenjon Barner has had a solid preseason for the Eagles, and with Wendell Smallwood hurt, he seems likely to open the season as the No. 2 running back behind Ryan Mathews. If so, he'll continue a recent stretch of serviceable to solid sixth-round picks.

Since 2010, there have been 24 running backs selected in the sixth round of drafts. I tried to remove all the fullbacks and players who went on to play different positions, like linebacker or wide receiver. The number includes two this season, in Dallas and San Francisco.

Of the previous 22, more than a third (8) will be either starters, direct backups, or committee backs this season. Not a huge number, but hey; sixth-round draft picks. The other 14 include 7 deep reserves (third-string or worse) and 7 who are out of the league. Some are young enough that they may yet surface somewhere in the next year or two.

In any case, I actually figured the odds of sixth-round picks amounting to anything in the NFL would be a lot lower. Nobody is going to build a franchise around James Starks or Andre Ellington, but those guys are useful NFL players. Maybe Barner will be one, too.

Running backs drafted in the sixth round since 2010 are shown below. Starters or projected No. 2s/committee backs are in bold.

SIXTH-ROUND RUNNING BACKS, 2010-2016
YearPickPlayerStatus
2010188Jonathan Dwyer, Pitt.Out of league
2010193James Starks, G.B.Committee back/backup
2010173Anthony Dixon, S.F.Out of league
2010180Deji Karim, Jac.Out of league
2011183Jordan Todman, S.D.Deep reserve
2011177Evan Royster, Wash.Out of league
2012202Terrance Ganaway, NYJOut of league
2012173Alfred Morris, Wash.Former starter, likely backup
2012191Dan Herron, Cin.Deep reserve
2012182Cyrus Gray, K.C.Deep reserve
2013181Latavius Murray, Oak.Starter
2013199Theo Riddick, Det.Committee back
2013187Andre Ellington, Ariz.Committee back
2013194Spencer Ware, Sea.Backup
2013182Kenjon Barner, Car.Backup
2013190Rex Burkhead, Cin.Deep reserve
2013189Mike James, T.B.Deep reserve
2014201Marion Grice, S.D.Out of league
2014181Alfred Blue, Hou.Backup
2014186Lache Seastrunk, Wash.Deep reserve
2014204Tyler Gaffney, Car.Deep reserve
2015205Josh Robinson, Ind.Out of league
2016211Kelvin Taylor, S.F.?
2016216Darius Jackson, Dall.?

--Andy Richardson