Contract Terms
According to multiple reports, former Giants running back Saquon Barkley has reached an agreement with the Philadelphia Eagles on a three-year, $37.75 million contract that could be worth up to $46.75 million and includes $26 million fully guaranteed at signing.
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Fantasy Football Impact
While Barkley has put up impressive numbers while healthy, the New York Giants have not been the best team to play for. In the six years he spent with New York, the team has one winning season, has gone through three head coaches, and has struggled at quarterback. Adding onto that, the offensive line has been abysmal over the past couple of seasons, ranking in the bottom six in run-block win rate in 2022 and 2023.
The Eagles could not be more of an upgrade as a team for Barkley. Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert are all threats that teams have to account for, and the offensive line has been the top two in the past two seasons at run-blocking win rate. Even with Jason Kelce gone, there is sufficient talent up front to keep them in the top-five conversation of offensive line performance. That O-line and the threat Hurts presents, not just in the passing game but as a runner, will open great run lanes for Barkley, something he's rarely had in his career.
Meanwhile, the Eagles attempted to use running backs as pass catchers last season, targeting the position 93 times. While that was middle of the pack, it was significantly better than their NFL-low 61 targets to running backs in 2022. If last year's targets were to translate into this season, Barkley would finish the season with a high receiving workload.
With D'Andre Swift heading to Chicago to potentially take over that backfield, Barkley is in line for a workhorse-type role in a high-powered offense that sets him up for success. The situation could not be better for an athletic, explosive, dual-threat running back like Barkley.
We have never seen Barkley in a situation this advantageous, so fantasy managers should be extremely excited about what he will do.
Viewing him as a top-five fantasy running back option when August and September come around isn't unreasonable. While he will likely be ranked in the top five, his ceiling is quite high. He has the potential to finish the season as the best fantasy running back with his talent in this offense.
The Fantasy Football Fallout
This move shouldn't lead to dramatic changes for Philly's offense. Fantasy managers should see a slight upgrade in production overall, so all involved could get a slight bump in rankings. Hurts and Brown are already great fantasy football assets; Smith is a very good player with a capped ceiling in fantasy; and Goedert is a back-end top-12 tight end who will likely be extremely inconsistent due to a lack of consistent targets.
Behind Barkley, the Eagles' depth at running back is shaky, but Kenneth Gainwell is the most likely player to serve as the newcomer's backup. If Barkley misses time, which has happened, Gainwell could be extremely valuable.
Stock Watch
Risers
Fallers
Overview
Saquon Barkley left the Giants to sign with the division-rival Eagles. The move should be a boon for Philadelphia's offensive production. It will be exciting to see this offense with a true superstar running back and see what Barkley is capable of in an offense with the talent to help him reach his full potential.
