Can We Stop Pretending Saquon Barkley Is A Tier One Fantasy Running Back?

Can We Stop Pretending Saquon Barkley Is A Tier One Fantasy Running Back?

Let me be very clear about this. Saquon Barkley is a very good running back. The people have decided to crown him in a territory he just doesn’t belong. As we head into the 2020 NFL Season, fantasy football owners have just pretty much locked Saquon in as the 2nd best player in fantasy. My question is why?

Can we just stop pretending that Barkley is this all world back that’s head and shoulders better than everybody else? Where is your proof? Last year Barkley finished the 2019 season as the RB10. Sure, he missed 3 games but still was RB6 on a points per game basis. What is your proof that Barkley is this top tier back? That he has big thighs?

I don’t get this one. Nick Chubb is just a better player. Even if you think it’s close, do you want to sign up for the Giants offense? Here’s what I don’t want. Daniel Jones, Joe Judge, and Jason Garrett. That’s what you’re signing up for with Barkley. Nate Solder also opted out so there goes a starting tackle on what was already a bad offensive line.

Give me Ezekiel Elliott over Barkley every single day of the week. I don’t get how it’s close? Zeke never misses games. Zeke has the Cowboys offensive line. Zeke has a team committed to the run. Zeke has Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and Michael Gallup on his side to clear the box. You can bookmark Zeke for 10 touchdowns this year. Last year he got you 14. Barkley got you 6 last year in a bad offense that’s not getting better.

You’re going to take Barkley over Dalvin Cook? Really? I get Gary Kubiak, the Vikings run first offense, and a player that caught more screen passes than anybody in the league, and RB3 in a points per game basis with Cook.

You’re going to take Barkley over Clyde Edwards-Helaire? So I get Andy Reid, Patrick Mahomes, and a Brian Westbrook comp? Yeah, give me CEH.

What are we doing here? Football fans live in a fantasy land when it comes to Saquon Barkley. So much so that the Giants were dumb enough to pass on Sam Darnold for him. Maybe it’s the thighs but regardless it doesn’t make sense. Go ahead and live in Barkley la la land. The hype doesn’t match the reality. Barkley is not in Christian McCaffrey’s class.