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Joey Pollizze breaks down whether Eagles running back Saquon Barkley will be a first-round pick in 2024 fantasy football. What is Barkley's fantasy football outlook?
After spending the first six seasons with the New York Giants, Saquon Barkley signed a multiyear deal with the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason. Barkley and the Eagles agreed to a three-year, $37.75 million deal in March, making him one of the highest-paid running backs in the league.
Barkley will now get to run behind one of the best offensive lines in football in 2024 and beyond. That should help his fantasy value immediately.
So, is Barkley a first-round pick in 2024 fantasy football? Let's dive in and find out.
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Saquon Barkley 2024 Fantasy Football Outlook
Since entering the league in 2018, Barkley has been one of the best fantasy options. He has finished as a top-12 fantasy running back in half-PPR formats in four of six years. The only two seasons he didn't was in 2020 (when he tore his ACL) and 2021 (the year after he tore his ACL).
Outside of those two years, though, Barkley has been a surefire RB1 option -- even behind a bottom-5 offensive line. Now, the 27-year-old gets to run behind the best run-blocking unit in the NFL. In 2023, Lane Johnson (82%), Landon Dickerson (81%), and Jordan Mailata (80%) ranked one, two, and three in run block win rate.
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is getting in extra work preparing for the season. The Eagles report to training camp two weeks from today!
📸 @saquon pic.twitter.com/wD9brPgPvY— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) July 9, 2024
So, Barkley should see much more success on the ground after rushing for just 3.89 yards per carry this past year. Even if Jalen Hurts takes away a handful of touchdowns, the Pro Bowl running back should definitely score at least 12 touchdowns in 2024. That makes him a great pick early in 2024 fantasy football drafts.
Is Saquon Barkley a First-Round Pick in 2024 Fantasy Football?
As it stands right now, Barkley isn't a first-round pick in most 12-plus-team leagues. He currently has a 15.7 ADP on Sleeper, so he is going early in the second round in most leagues.
In an ESPN survey of league executives, coaches, and scouts Saquon Barkley was ranked the 4th best Running Back in the league.
“He's going to be a beast. The weapons around him on the outside, dual-threat QB, shotgun runs, his versatility -- it's a perfect fit.”
— A Veteran AFC… pic.twitter.com/ovHrrCnDnF
— Word On The Birds (@WordOnTheBirds) July 8, 2024
However, Barkley should be under consideration in the back end of the first round. He will be the focal point on one of the best offenses in the NFL, and that should lead to some great fantasy days. His high floor mixed with a high ceiling behind an elite offensive line makes him someone fantasy managers might not be able to resist late in the first round.
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