New York Giants: Saquon Barkley Chasing Rushing Title During Last Stretch

The New York Giants drafted Saquon Barkley to turn their running game around, but in the first season for the former Penn State running back, he’s given the team more than they even hoped for before the draft. Some thought that Barkley’s NFL career would start slower, but that hasn’t been the case as Barkley has climbed to third overall in the league standings for rushing yards and helped to change a Giants offense that was mediocre at best and awful at worst in the running department before his arrival.

With three games left in the season, and a 170 yard performance against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, Barkley is in a position where it’s possible to overtake Todd Gurley and Ezekiel Elliot for the top spot, despite both players having better offensive lines and playing on teams with better records than the Giants. You could argue, even, that Barkley’s accomplishments are more impressive, as both of the other backs play for first placed teams in their respective divisions.

What does Barkley think about finishing as the top rusher in his first season in the NFL? While he claimed that wins are the most important thing, he also had some things to say about that prospect.

“I want to be great. I want to go down as one of the best. That’s not gonna just happen in one day. You’re gonna have to work for it and obviously with the help of your teammates. If I don’t get it this year, I’m gonna get it at some point, I promise you,” Barkley said. He’ll have three games left to get that rushing title, with the season finale coming against the Cowboys, who currently have the top rusher in the league in Ezekiel Elliot.

Will Barkley get the rushing title? Maybe, maybe not. But getting to this point as a rookie is impressive regardless, and as Barkley himself said, if he doesn’t get it this year, he’ll surely get it in the future.