Saquon Barkley Discovered How To Be An NFL Running Back

Saquon Barkley had a massive uphill battle when the worst GM in the history of professional sports elected to draft him with the no. 2 overall pick in 2018.

Eli Manning was clearly declining and the Giants had the opportunity to select Josh Allen or Lamar Jackson—two future Hall of Famers—but instead, they drafted a running back. By drafting a running back that high, the team immediately had one of the highest-paid running backs which is just a terrible way to spread the limited salary cap money you have. Drafting Barkley made no sense at all.

He immediately proved his value in his first year with the Giants accumulating 2,028 scrimmage yards and finding the endzone 15 times leading to a Rookie of the Year award and an All-Pro selection.

His numbers dropped the next season after missing a few games with an injury and the remainder of his career would be missing every other year with brutal ligament tears. You know, that thing everyone said when Barkley was drafted no. 2 because running backs get hurt the most.

I never cared so much about injuries. I never understood when people get mad at the players as if there is anything they could do to prevent linebackers running full speed and diving helmet-first into their joints. I type on a keyboard all day. I have no business demonizing players for not being able to play a full 17-game schedule.

My big problem with Barkley was his play style and the way all of these dumb coaches tried to use him. Saquon became popular at Penn State for his dazzling ability to make defenders in open space look like were wearing roller skates.

But in the NFL where running backs are primarily used to improve field position and set up more manageable 3rd down conversions, Saquon hesitating to hit the hole the offensive line makes and choosing to wait for defenders to breach the backfield so he can do a spin move resulting in a 0-yard gain has been a massive problem.

And again, Ben McAdoo, Pat Shurmur and Jason Garrett all thought the best play in the playbook was running Saquon right up the middle on 1st and 10 which always resulted in gaining no yards and setting Daniel Jones up for a 2nd and long. Every. Single. Game.

2022 Saquon is a different beast. Here’s what he was able to do Week 1 against the Titans:

18 carries
6 receptions
194 total yards
1 touchdown
1 MASSIVE 2-point conversion

Saquon Barkley’s 1st 50+ yard run since 2019! 68 yards! pic.twitter.com/9pArrpML7j

— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) September 11, 2022

Most rushing yards after contact in Week 1 so far

💥 Saquon Barkley – 123
💥 Jonathan Taylor – 115
💥 D’Andre Swift – 98
💥 Nick Chubb – 88 pic.twitter.com/fXHzFWF2ws

— PFF Fantasy Football (@PFF_Fantasy) September 12, 2022

The most rushing yards after contact. Saquon transformed into Marshawn Lynch this offseason. Every time he touched the ball, he moved the chains. Never in his career did I believe he was capable of being that type of back and now that he’s unlocked that level of his game, I can now say with complete confidence he’s the best running back in the NFL.

The only bad news is his contract is up so he decided to become the best as soon as the Giants would need to pay him even more money. We’ll deal with that problem when it comes. Until then, let us all enjoy witnessing what is about to be a historic season. Barkley is the MVP so far.