Saquon Barkley is probably the best player on the New York Giants. That title was more disputed during his rookie season but with other star players gone such as wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. and defensive tackle Damon Harrison, the latter of whom could arguably have been considered the best at filling his position’s role because of his great skills against the run, it looks like Barkley is the last man standing when it comes to the team’s elite talents.
But where does Barkley rank when considering players from across the league? According to CBS, the result is lower than you might think. CBS Sports recently released their list of the top 100 players in the NFL, and Barkley only comes in at 21st despite being one of the contenders for MVP this season, and possibly the best contender outside of the position that’s typically the favorite for the award: quarterback. Here’s what they had to say about the Giants running back:
Our top-ranked running back, Barkley is a truly rare player archetype. Last season, Barkley became just the seventh player in NFL history to run for at least 1,000 yards and catch at least 90 passes in the same season — and the first to do so as a rookie. His 2,028 yards from scrimmage led the NFL. He’s not the most efficient back on an every-snap basis, but he makes up for it with an incredible volume of explosive plays, and an improved offensive line should help with the efficiency.
The list seems to discount the running back position in general as Barkley’s spot at number 21 is the highest for any running back, placing him above rivals such as Todd Gurley and Ezekiel Elliot.
What do you think? Is the best running back in the league only the 21st best player across all positions? Can the Giants win despite looking like a running team this year, with uncertainty at receiver and Barkley as their obvious main weapon on offense?
Those questions will need to be answered this season, and some of the answers will determine whether Barkley truly is an MVP contender.