We May Have Underestimated How Much Saquon Barkley Was Held Back by the Giants

It was always clear Saquon Barkley didn't have enough help with the New York Giants. But his first season with the Eagles has been even more eye-opening than expected. 

In a 37-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday Night Football, Barkley set a new Eagles franchise single-game rushing record Sunday with 255 yards. Heck, he added another 47 yards as a receiver. The NFL MVP isn't decided at Thanksgiving, but if it was, Barkley would likely be the favorite: 

Eagles Takeaways: Saquon Barkley Becomes MVP Favorite With Dominant Performance@TimKellySports has the recap https://t.co/dz7DDsIArI

— On Pattison (@OnPattison) November 25, 2024

If you need an idea of how special Barkley's first season with the Eagles has been, you have to dig deeper than the fact that he leads the NFL with 1,397 rushing yards. 

The most telling nugget about Barkley's 2024 dominance — and perhaps how inept the Giants were around him — is that five of the top nine single-game rushing performances of the running back's career have come this season: 

1. 255 rushing yards vs. Rams on Nov. 24

3. 176 rushing yards vs. Giants on Oct. 20

6. 159 rushing yards vs. Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 3

8. 147 rushing yards vs. New Orleans Saints on Sept. 22

9. 146 rushing yards vs. Washington Commanders on Nov. 14

Saquon Barkley is pretty good ✅

pic.twitter.com/St7hD4kdZ5

— On Pattison (@OnPattison) November 25, 2024

Daniel Jones was released last week, so his shortcomings are well-documented. As is the lack of offensive line and skill-position talent the Giants had around Barkley for the bulk of his six seasons in New York. 

Still, you don't typically think of a running back peaking in his seventh season. That's usually when players at that position are starting to hit a wall because of the physical toll it has taken on their body. Instead, Barkley has had the finest season of his career, looking like the Hall of Fame-caliber player the Giants thought he would be when they took him No. 2 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft. 

Injuries — most notably a torn right ACL he suffered early in the 2020 campaign — did prevent Barkley from being at his best at times during his tenure with the Giants. 

But he was largely healthy a season ago, and rushed for 962 yards on 247 carries. He's carried the ball 223 times in 2024 for 1,392 yards. That can't just be a coincidence. 

As it turns out, the Giants were holding Barkley back even more than we believed. And he could have the chance to cement his MVP case by going over 2,000 rushing yards in Week 18 against ... the Giants. 

Saquon is on pace for 2,151 rushing yards this season which would break the NFL record by 46 yards.

Week 18 opponent: The New York Giants pic.twitter.com/3SktiYs4wI

— Philly Nation (@Philly__Nation) November 25, 2024