The Fantasy Case Against Saquon Barkley
The summer season is right here, meaning we’re getting nearer to the commence of delusion football drafts. Success in these drafts will come from landing terrific bargains within the heart to slack rounds whereas avoiding gamers who could search their numbers decline when when put next with 2020. On the different hand, that latter disclose is no longer easy, particularly within the case of gamers who’re among the elite at their space or are coming off breakout seasons within the stat sheets.
As an example: In 2018, James Conner emerged loyal into a delusion star as the brand new lead operating aid in Pittsburgh. He finished sixth in delusion capabilities at the space even though he uncared for three video games. That success, plus his versatile skill space, made him a first-round rob in most 2019 redrafts. Fantasy participants excellent-looking trusted that ensuing from Conner used to be so correct in his breakout 365 days, he’d be excellent-looking as correct or better the following 365 days. Sadly, these of you who sunk a first-rounder on him chanced on out differently.
Conner uncared for six video games in 2019, and his sensible stats per game went downhill. His yards per carry sensible dropped from 4.5 to 4.0, and his delusion capabilities per game sensible went from 21.5 to 14.6. The Pitt product finished a truly disappointing RB35.
The Fantasy Case Against …
Justin Herbert | Derrick Henry | Alvin Kamara | Saquon Barkley
The level right here is that few participants noticed this coming ensuing from Conner used to be so correct in 2018. That leads me to this sequence, aptly named “The Fantasy Case Against …” the get I’ll carry out my due diligence in having a watch at gamers who everybody in delusion land appears to advise is an efficient bet to remain uber-productive after finding a excessive level of success in past seasons.
I’ve examined Derrick Henry and Alvin Kamara, so now, let’s watch at Saquon Barkley.
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
2020 Season
Barkley performed in fewer than two video games closing season earlier than suffering a torn ACL in his correct knee. He moreover experienced damage to his MCL and meniscus. He finished with 25 touches and averaged 1.8 yards a traipse and used to be moreover focused nine times (six catches).
Did You Know?
Barkley has uncared for a mixed 17 video games over the closing two seasons. Within the video games he used to be active (15), he averaged 17.3 delusion capabilities. That can possibly well harmful him eighth at the space among operating backs who earn performed in as a minimal 14 video games. That sensible would moreover earn been correct ample to enact tied with Slice Chubb for ninth-handiest on a capabilities-per-game foundation closing season. In his one-plus video games in 2020 earlier than suffering the torn ACL, Barkley had excellent-looking 34 speeding yards on 19 carries and averaged 7.7 capabilities.
Historic Trends
The act of getting a watch aid at historical dispositions when it involves operating backs coming off reconstructive knee surgical map is a little bit of unsuitable, as clinical skills has improved so unparalleled within the closing decade-plus. Smooth, breaking down what some elite backs earn finished in their first 365 days after an ACL path of could shed some gentle on what lies forward for Barkley and his delusion managers. Chances are you’ll possibly inspect a pattern with every even handed one of these gamers.
Since 2000, several elite backs earn endured most essential knee reconstruction. Edgerrin James blew out his knee six video games into the 2001 season. He did come aid to play 14 video games the following 365 days, but his production took a nosedive, and he finished as the RB19. James had finished as the RB2 in delusion in every of his earlier two years.
Jamal Lewis is a various case ensuing from he suffered his correct ACL streak earlier than the 2001 season and uncared for the total 365 days. The indisputable truth that he used to be injured so early used to be a giant advantage for the bruising aid, who moreover tore up his left knee in faculty (1998). Lewis made a a hit return in 2002 with 1,327 yards on the ground and seven total touchdowns. He finished as the RB15 and went on to traipse for 2,066 yards in 2003.
The first ACL streak of Deuce McAllister’s professional profession came in 2005 when he went down after five video games. He returned to play 15 video games the following season and performed effectively, speeding for 1,057 yards and 10 touchdowns. McAllister finished the 365 days as the RB15. He suffered some other torn ACL in 2007, and his profession would dwell the following 365 days.
Ronnie Brown used to be the handiest operating aid in delusion football in 2007 till he blew out his knee within the seventh game. His projected scrimmage yardage totals would earn been the 11th-most ever in NFL history at the time, so his used to be a most essential loss. Whereas Brown did play in a beefy 16 video games the following season, his stats paled when when put next with his projected 2007 totals. He moreover averaged shut to 1 beefy yard fewer per strive.
Transferring forward to 2011, four illustrious delusion operating backs went down with ACL tears, at the side of the likes of Adrian Peterson, Jamaal Charles, Knowshon Moreno, and Rashard Mendenhall. The implications the following 365 days were mixed. Peterson, proving he’s no longer human, rushed for 2,097 yards and used to be the head runner in delusion land in spite of his slack-season ACL streak. Charles scored excellent-looking six total touchdowns, but his yardage totals were correct ample to relief him enact ninth in delusion capabilities put up-ACL.
The info wasn’t as correct for Moreno and Mendenhall, on the different hand. Moreno performed in excellent-looking six video games the following season, and Mendenhall used to be sidelined for all but six contests.
We haven’t viewed a illustrious delusion runner scamper down with an ACL recently, with Barkley being the most fresh example. Tarik Cohen moreover suffered an ACL ailment, but he isn’t on the same level in delusion football. The extra fresh outcomes from Peterson and Charles are promising, despite the indisputable truth that that you simply must to marvel if the Giants will unleash Barkley out of the gate or possibly ease him aid into the offense at a slower than standard rate.
Coaching Modifications
Jason Garrett used to be employed as the offensive coordinator for the Giants closing season. In 14 years as an OC or head coach, he has produced a mixed 10 top-24 operating backs, at the side of six ranked as the RB8 or better. He’s had the aid of getting studs admire Ezekiel Elliott, DeMarco Murray, Marion Barber, and Barkley (two video games) in his arsenals. It’s a spacious little sample dimension, but Barkley averaged excellent-looking 1.8 yards per carry (19 carries) below Garrett in 2020. He used to be focused nine times as a scamper-catcher.
Head coach Joe Absorb shut hasn’t equipped a concrete timeline for Barkley’s return, so he’s a candidate to have a examine his snap counts restricted all the intention by the early portion of the humble season. That scenario, clearly, is something delusion managers could moreover unbiased quiet take into accout in drafts.
Verdict
Barkley is even handed one of basically the most talented playmakers at his space, and at 24, he’s excellent-looking now coming into into the top of his profession. For these reasons and the breakout marketing campaign he had as a rookie, Barkley will be a first-round rob in redrafts. He does come with menace, as he’s viewed movement in a mere 15 video games (47 percent) within the closing two years on account of each ankle and knee ailments. I wouldn’t name Barkley brittle, but he’s no longer been sturdy.
Fantasy managers could moreover unbiased quiet moreover mood expectations for the talented Giants runner. His rookie season, which incorporated 121 targets, 91 catches, and bigger than 2,000 scrimmage yards, is most frequently his handiest at the NFL level. The Giants gave Barkley 352 touches in his first season, and he’ll be spirited-pressed to reach that total if he’s brought aid slowly.
He used to be moreover catching passes from Eli Manning, who ranked fourth among quarterbacks with as a minimal 12 begins in scamper percentage (26) to operating backs in 2018. In his first two years, Daniel Jones threw to his operating backs 16.5 percent of the time. That entails 13 video games as a rookie the get Jones threw to his runners 16.1 percent of the time.
Fantasy fans could moreover unbiased quiet moreover defend into consideration that the Giants will bring aid Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, and Evan Engram, and the additions of Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney, and Kyle Rudolph scamper away the team with a huge selection of offensive mouths to feed on offense. Hobble, Barkley did earn Odell Beckham Jr., Shepard, and Engram to contend with as a rookie, but OBJ uncared for four video games, and Engram used to be out for five. New York’s third wideout that season used to be a mix of Bennie Fowler, Corey Coleman, and Russell Shepard.
The 2021 G-Males earn a a long way extra loaded offense, meaning fewer targets for Barkley.
Now let’s watch at Barkley in 2019. He performed 13 video games that season and used to be efficient overall but quiet noticed declines in yards per traipse sensible, total touchdowns, catches, and scrimmage yards. He did sensible 18.8 delusion capabilities a game, on the different hand, which ranked eighth among runners. To query him to be better, coming off ACL, MCL, and meniscus accidents, could moreover unbiased be asking too unparalleled. As we’ve viewed from past runners, getting aid from such a path of could moreover even be a a little bit of advanced job (except you’re Adrian Peterson).
The Giants moreover earn some questions surrounding their offensive line that will possibly negatively affect Barkley. Basically, our chums over at PFF earn this line ranked lifeless closing within the league heading into 2021. Smooth, Barkley is the fifth operating aid coming off the board per ADP records from the Fantasy Soccer World Championships. So, the excessive-stakes participants are quiet having a bet on Barkley being a top-five runner after the ACL.
I’d suggest that even though Barkley finishes RB10 this season, he’d quiet be a disappointment in conserving along with his ADP. Yet, the lure of his ability and a rookie season for the ages will be too spacious a temptation to scamper on within the most essential round. If it were me, lustrous he’s uncared for so unparalleled time within the closing two seasons and is coming off a most essential knee reconstruction, I’d err on the aspect of caution and obtain Ezekiel Elliott, Derrick Henry (moreover comes with menace), and even Slice Chubb earlier than Barkley if I’m observing a top-eight overall different.
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Michael Fabiano is an award-a hit delusion football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Affiliation (FSWA) Hall of Repute. Click on right here to be taught all his articles right here on SI Fantasy. Chances are you’ll possibly well educate Michael on Twitter, Fb, YouTube, and Instagram in your slack-breaking delusion info and the handiest diagnosis within the replace!