Saquon Barkley 2023 Outlook
The New York Giants figured out how to keep their offense together, at least for one more season: They shelled out $40 million a year to extend Daniel Jones, and they tagged Barkley after a resurgent 2022 campaign. Has Barkley signed that tag? Not as of this writing. The sides are still working on long-term negotiations. Assuming things don’t take a turn for the worse there and Barkley is suited up for Week 1, he’s shown he can be a 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown performer whenever he’s healthy. Barkley had a career-high 295 rushing attempts last year, and the only teammate siphoning those off from him may be Jones, who perhaps literally found his legs in 2022 and scored seven touchdowns on 120 carries -- some designed runs, some scrambles. But Barkley is the most talented weapon the Giants have. In their first year with coach Brian Daboll and offensive coordinator Mike Kafka, they showed a willingness to utilize Barkley in the passing game, and while he finished the year without a receiving touchdown, don’t expect consecutive goose eggs there.
Saquon Barkley 2022 Outlook
Barkley enters the final year of his contract as a bit of a disappointment. So much so that some have written him off as a potential difference maker. That's understandable. As NFL.com notes, the former No. 2 overall pick didn't have juice on the second level, netting just three rushes of 20-plus yards and a measly nine of 10-plus yards. While the O-line didn't help, Barkley couldn't make defenders miss and wasn't blowing through tackles. Given all that, it's not a surprise that Barkley recently told reporters his goals are to prove those people wrong. "I'm tired of whatever's written about me," Barkley said. "I want to go out there and prove I can still do special things with the ball in my hand. ..." Barkley's rookie season was a huge success individually, but the Giants were 5-11, and Barkley had the first of three injury-interrupted seasons in 2019. He tore his ACL in the second week of the 2020 season and returned to run for 593 yards and two touchdowns on 162 carries in 13 games last year. If Barkley proves his case, it will make for an interesting decision for the Giants after the season about where they think things will go in Year 6 and beyond. Perhaps being another year removed from his ACL tear will help, but fantasy managers shouldn't get their hopes up. You're drafting him for potential volume, not upside.
Saquon Barkley 2021 Outlook
Barkley missed almost all of the 2020 season after tearing his ACL in Week 2, and getting back into form for 2021 remains his top priority. "We have to make sure that we let him get it at his pace and when we put him on the field he can play 100 percent aggressive and confident and he's going to play safe and he can play effective," coach Joe Judge said after holding the star RB out of the team's June minicamp. Judge added the Giants won't rush anything. ... As Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport noted, when healthy, Barkley is one of the NFL's most electrifying players. The second overall pick in 2018 exploded on the scene, compiling over 2,000 total yards. Barkley averaged five yards per carry and also caught 91 passes that rookie season. His yards per carry dipped in 2019, and the former Penn State star missed three games but still piled up over 1,400 yards. As for his immediate fantasy value, there aren't many true feature backs in the NFL. A healthy Barkley is one of them -- and one with ample receiving upside. A mid first-round price tag is worth the risk -- even if it takes a little time to ramp up his workload.
