In their latest top 50 players list, Pro Football Focus left out many star players such as Minkah Fitzpatrick, Darius Leonard, and Aaron Rodgers. But perhaps the most controversial name left off of the list was New York Giants‘ star running back Saquon Barkley. Just what justification does PFF have to not consider arguably the best running back in the NFL a top 50 player?
First, let’s break down the list. Just to keep in mind, there are zero New York Giants players on this list, (which isn’t all that surprising considering the team has lacked star playmakers outside of Barkley and Beckham in recent years). One interesting thing to think about which speaks further to how egregious it is to leave Barkley off of this list is the fact that there are only two running backs on the list: Christian McCaffrey and Nick Chubb. Not a knock on either of those backs, both of whom are fantastic, but to have both of those backs in the top 50 and not Barkley is downright absurd.
Now we can go number by number analyzing the inaccuracies with this list. Deshaun Watson at 43? No Marcus Peters or Jalen Ramsey? Kittle at 5 but Kelce at 19? We could be here all day with different takes and opinions, but you would be hard-pressed to find someone who even pays mild attention to the NFL that would say that Saquon Barkley is not a top 50 player.
The only somewhat reasonable explanation one could theorize is the fact that Barkley missed games in 2019. However, Derwin James, the LA Chargers’ star safety missed all but five games in 2019 and is somehow still ranked at 31. Furthermore, Barkley still managed to log over 1400 scrimmage yards in 13 games last season, to build off of an offensive rookie of the year campaign in 2018. Despite the Giants’ struggles, Saquon Barkley has been a diamond in the rough since he was drafted, and AT THE VERY LEAST deserves to be a top 50 player.