The NFL Draft is officially over, which means it’s time to start focusing on the fantasy football draft. It’s never too early to start preparing for the fantasy season, especially if you own the top pick. New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley finished 2018 as the RB2 behind only Todd Gurley and should have similar success in 2019. There are a lot of fantastic players in the NFL, but should the second-year running back be selected first overall?
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Fantasy Football 2019 Season Preview: Saquon Barkley
2018 Recap
The second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft spent 2018 as New York’s feature back. Appearing in all 16 games, Barkley finished his season with 1,307 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns on 261 attempts. The rookie also provided value in the passing game, hauling in 91 receptions for 721 yards and an additional four touchdowns.
Barkley’s production wasn’t a product of one or two good games, as the rookie was one of the most consistent players in the league. Per Pro Football Reference, Barkley only had one game with fewer than 10 fantasy points and eclipsed the 20-point mark on six separate occasions (standard scoring).
Barkley’s production was the perfect mix of volume and efficiency. The rookie running back had the second-most touches in the league, behind only Ezekiel Elliott. In terms of efficiency, Barkley averaged an impressive 5.0 yards-per-carry and 7.9 yards-per-reception. Basically, the Giants used Barkley excessively and the Penn State product consistently answered the call every time he saw the ball. Now entering his second year in the league, Barkley’s production should only improve in 2019.
2019 Outlook
In 2018, the New York Giants offense ran through Saquon Barkley and Odell Beckham Jr. In 2019, it will run entirely through Saquon Barkley. The Giants essentially punted on the season when they traded Odell Beckham away to the Cleveland Browns. Eli Manning isn’t getting any younger, and the two-time Super Bowl champion is starting to slow down. Sterling Shepard and Golden Tate are fine receivers, but they’re not capable of carrying a passing attack as Beckham can.
The Giants will need to turn to Barkley early and often if they’re to have any hope of moving the ball. Barkley is one of the best playmakers in the league, both on the ground and through the air. One year after recording the second-most touches in the league, it’s entirely plausible that Barkley finishes the year with the most touches in football.
Adding to his value is that New York’s offensive line should be even better in 2019. The Giants offensive line took a while to come into form last year, ranking among the league-worst in run and pass blocking. However, the unit settled in as the year went on, transforming into a league-average unit. Guard Will Hernandez should improve from his impressive rookie season and left tackle Nate Solder should play better with a full off-season in New York under his belt.
As if Barkley needed any more value, there’s a very real chance that Daniel Jones takes over during the 2019 season. As rookie, Jones will rely upon Barkley and the running game to bail him out of trouble. Whether it’s Manning or Jones under center, Barkley should receive the majority of the looks.
Average Draft Position
As of this posting, FantasyFootballCalculator.com currently has Barkley as the first player off the board. This assessment could not be more accurate, as nobody in the league boasts a better combination of opportunity, workload, and talent.
Barkley is one of the most talented running backs in football and will be the focal point of the New York Giants offense. With Odell Beckham gone, Eli Manning will be handing the ball off the Barkley and first and second down before throwing check downs to Barkley on third down. The second-year running back should be the favorite to finish the year with the most touches in the league and is pure magic every time he touches the ball. Barkley is only 22 years old, making him even more valuable in dynasty leagues. Barring something completely unforeseen, Barkley is the clear 1.01 in fantasy drafts of any format.
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