When Should I Draft Saquon Barkley? 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook

Over the past few NFL seasons, few football players have received as much attention as Saquon Barkley. Since entering the league, Barkley has been a dynamic force, known for his explosive playmaking abilities and versatility as both a rusher and a receiver. 

This past offseason, Barkley left the New York Giants and signed with the division rival Philadelphia Eagles. In terms of Barkley's current fantasy value, this decision has both positive and negative aspects.

In this article, I will delve into Barkley’s 2024 outlook, analyzing key factors such as his projected workload, the Eagles’ offensive dynamics, and the potential risks and rewards of drafting him at various points in your fantasy draft. 

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Saquon Barkley Fantasy Football Outlook

Barkley’s outlook with his new team in 2024 is quite complicated and has many layers. First and foremost, Barkley has dealt with injuries in almost every season of his career. He has only played 16 games in two of his six seasons and only 14 last year. In the two full seasons he played (2018 and 2022), he finished as the RB1 and RB5, respectively (PPR scoring). 

Last season with the Giants, Barkley was the lone bright spot in an offense that ranked 30th in the league in points per game (15.6). In the 14 games he played, he accumulated 1,242 total scrimmage yards, scored ten touchdowns, and finished as the RB13.

It is also worth noting that Barkley was used in immense volume, as he accounted for 54.4% of the team's total touches out of the backfield, even after missing three games. 

I was told only the great saquon barkley could do this pic.twitter.com/uiUIGtmM8x

— ❔To Nabers🐅 (@BallsDeepInYm3) August 17, 2024

Now, with the Eagles, Barkley won’t be relied on as much as he was with the Giants. His new team has a true dual-threat quarterback in Jalen Hurts and two elite receiving options (A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith). 

On top of that, The Eagles’ head coach, Nick Sirriani, put a lot of faith in the team’s RB2 Kenneth Gainwell last season and gave him lots of red zone touches. This may help Barkley stay healthy and be able to appear in more games. However, it will hurt his fantasy value, as the Eagles cannot possibly give Barkley the touches and scores he was used to in New York. 

When Should I Draft Saquon Barkley in Fantasy Football?

Barkley is currently projected to finish as the RB5 (PPR) and has an ADP at around nine. Barkley is an immensely talented football player who will surely help the Eagles' offense improve in real life. With that being said, due to his expected decrease in touches, it’s hard to see a scenario where his fantasy stats are good enough to justify his cost as a top-10 pick. 

There are, frankly, just too many safer options. For example, Jonathan Taylor and Derrick Henry, who both have ADP’s similar to Barkley's, have higher floors and offer even greater upsides as true volume players. 

While I still expect Barkley to have a good fantasy season, I see him as an early to middle second-round pick. Don't hesitate to grab him if he is available to you at that spot, but consider holding off on him in the first round.

Devonta Smith’s face after watching a Saquon Barkley juke

: @Eagles https://t.co/SocdIw8uSf pic.twitter.com/wc2LhdMnjc

— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) August 20, 2024

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