Saquon Barkley vs. Jahmyr Gibbs - Who Should I Draft in 2024 Fantasy Football?

Should fantasy football players draft Saquon Barkley or Jahmyr Gibbs during their 2024 fantasy drafts? Exploring fantasy outlooks for both star running backs.

After six seasons with the New York Giants, Saquon Barkley is now on a new team. Earlier this offseason, he signed a three-year, $37.75 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. Barkley is coming off a tough year in New York, largely due to the personnel around him, but now he has the opportunity to make a big impact for the Eagles.

He will be one of the most sought-after running backs in fantasy football drafts this year. Jahmyr Gibbs, a Detroit Lions running back, is another popular choice among fantasy players. Gibbs had an impressive rookie season with the Lions and played a huge part in their success last year.

Which player between Barkley and Gibbs should you prefer to draft this year? Let's take a look at both of their fantasy outlooks, which will make it easier for managers to prepare their draft strategy.

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Saquon Barkley’s 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook

In 14 games last year, Saquon Barkley had 247 carries for 962 yards and scored six touchdowns. He also had 41 receptions for 280 yards and four touchdowns. He missed three games due to an ankle sprain but is fully healthy at the moment.

Barkley now gets the opportunity to play with a better group of players, and they will make the job easier for him. Not only does he have a good offensive line in front of him, but players like A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert will open up running lanes for the 27-year-old running back.

If he stays healthy, then Barkley could have the best year of his career so far. It wouldn't be a surprise if he made a similar impact for the Eagles as Christian McCaffrey had for the San Francisco 49ers.

First look at Saquon Barkley in midnight green. 👀

(🎥: @cfranklinnews) pic.twitter.com/FMld7eZiyb

— Word On The Birds (@WordOnTheBirds) May 22, 2024

Jahmyr Gibbs' 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook

The Detroit Lions surprised many when they drafted Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th overall pick last year. Fortunately for them, the Alabama product had a stellar rookie year and has cemented himself as one of the best players when it comes to fantasy football.

In 15 games last year, Gibbs had 182 carries for 945 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. He also had 52 receptions for 316 yards and a touchdown. The 22-year-old running back averaged an impressive 5.2 yards per carry, and given how good the Lions offensive line is, he will likely average the same this year.

Although Gibbs has played extremely well so far, he will continue to share touches with David Montgomery, who is also coming off a great season.

Jahmyr Gibbs running with a purpose 💪

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— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2023

Who Should I Draft in Fantasy Football?

Both Saquon Barkley and Jahmyr Gibbs will have a great season if they stay healthy. Drafting either will result in success for your fantasy football teams, but I think Barkley can have a better season than Gibbs.

After a horrid ending to their season last year, the Eagles are motivated to prove everyone wrong. As mentioned earlier, Barkley can easily have a similar production to McCaffrey in Philadelphia, as he will be heavily involved in both the running and passing games.

As a result, picking Barkley will be the right decision, as the Lions will share the workload between Montgomery and Gibbs throughout the season.

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