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NFL - The Athletic fantasy football takes on Saquon Barkley
Every source-backed article insight STACKED has extracted from NFL - The Athletic about Saquon Barkley.
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Insight ledger
All NFL - The Athletic insights about Saquon Barkley
PositiveProjectionJul 9, 2026
The Eagles' offseason changes prioritized unlocking the running game through a wide-zone blocking scheme and more under-center runs. Barkley's production will depend on offensive line health. Among top-10 RBs last season, Kyren Williams (1,252 rushing yards on 259 carries), Bijan Robinson, De'Von Achane, and Christian McCaffrey all played in offenses with roots from the system that Mannion will run in Philadelphia; Williams' numbers should be considered the floor for Barkley this season.NegativeProjectionJun 18, 2026
Barkley reset the running back market in March 2025 by signing a two-year extension with the Philadelphia Eagles at $20.6 million per year, establishing the benchmark against which Robinson and Gibbs are being compared. The source's model projects Robinson to surpass Barkley's AAV, making Robinson the highest-paid running back on a per-year basis in NFL history.PositiveRoleJun 16, 2026
Star running back Saquon Barkley credits coach Nick Sirianni for not receiving enough recognition for his work. Barkley states: 'He doesn't get enough credit at all, in my opinion' and 'what he's doing, in real time, is legendary.' Barkley notes that while fans discuss his own 2,000-yard rushing season and quarterback Jalen Hurts extensively, Sirianni 'is like the last one to get brought up, and it doesn't really make sense.' Barkley also acknowledges that when he played for the rival New York Giants, he was 'highly annoyed' by Sirianni's coaching style, but now recognizes the coach's value: 'If you don't know Nick Sirianni, it's easy not to like Nick Sirianni.'PositiveRoleJun 2, 2026
Barkley's signing in 2024 fundamentally altered the Eagles' offensive philosophy, shifting from a pass-heavy attack to a run-dominant system. Barkley led the NFL in rushing, earned first-team All-Pro honors, and was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year. The Eagles' rushing attack ranked second in the NFL at nearly 180 yards per game in 2024, a dramatic increase from their top-10 ranking in 2022–2023.PositiveRoleJun 1, 2026
Saquon Barkley becomes the heart of the Eagles' offense following A.J. Brown's trade. The source notes that the heart of the Eagles' offense must come through superstar running back Saquon Barkley and the ground game, along with improved line play, as the Eagles experiment with new personnel at receiver.