Saquon Barkley carried a struggling Giants offense last year and still produced 50+ rushing yards in 9/16 fantasy weeks. Three of those games were missed due to injury, but Barkley is still a workhorse running back. Now in Philadelphia, Barkley should have even more of an impact.
2024 Fantasy Football Profile: Saquon Barkley
2023 in Review
In addition to his nine games with 50+ yards last year, Barkley had just one fantasy-eligible game where he averaged less than three years per carry. He had five top-10 finishes among running backs in standard league and six top-10 finishes in PPR leagues. Doing this behind an atrocious offensive line (and atrocious offense as a whole) is impressive as every team in the NFC knew the Giants offense ran through Barkley.
Barkley had touchdowns in just six games in 2023 with two games being included as a result of receiving touchdowns. Granted, it’s hard to find the endzone when your team struggles to move the ball. However, Barkley should have gotten more work at the goal line than he did.
Saquon Barkley on the Eagles offense feels like a cheat code…
pic.twitter.com/EB1DSs66hy— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) August 8, 2024
Despite all of this, he finished as the RB9 last year for points per game in standard and PPR leagues. His RB9 finish saw him finish ahead of guys like Jahmyr Gibbs, Breece Hall and Isaiah Pacheco. He also finished as the RB13 in both formats for total points.
2024 Projection
As the kids say these days, Barkley is going to cook this year in his first season with the Eagles. The one thing Philadelphia’s offense was missing was a legit run game, and Nick Sirianni now has it with Barkley. If he could run for 962 yards last year in New York, 1,300 is within reach this year for Barkley, barring he can stay healthy.
Barkley’s touchdown numbers will also increase this season. Not only will the Eagles be in position for him to run it more, his presence means the team won’t be running the famous “Tush Push” with Jalen Hurts as much as they did last year.
Saquon Barkley Fantasy Football ADP
Barkley currently sits at an ADP of 11 with a range of picks from 11-39. Those who are waiting until the fourth round to take Barkley must be forgetting he’s on a new team that will actually compliment him. Leagues with 12 teams see him go at the end of the first round while those who pick at the end of 10-team leagues get the benefit of grabbing him as the snake order turns around.
Saquon Barkley getting ready to play his first game as an Eagle 🔥 pic.twitter.com/17T1agzULc
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) August 9, 2024
Barkley’s ADP is right where it should be as there are very few true running backs of his caliber. Guys like Gibbs, Kyren Williams or De’Von Achane have the potential to perform similarly, but Barkley has proved to be consistent year after year.
Like every season since he was drafted into the NFL, it comes down to health for Barkley. Outside of the 2020 covid year, he hasn’t missed more than four games in a season. Like all players who have a question mark in the health category, it’s important to draft depth and cover yourself.
Main Image Courtesy of Bill Streicher – USA Today Sports
