In the last 10 years, five running backs have been taken in the top 10. Four of the five (Saquon Barkley, Ezekiel Elliott, Leonard Fournette and Todd Gurley) had 229 carries or more in their rookie season. The fifth (Christian McCaffrey) had only 117 carries but added 80 catches. When teams draft backs in the top 10, like Bijan Robinson, they use them a lot.

Related players: Tyler Allgeier, Cordarrelle Patterson

The author went on to say Allgeier will still get plenty of use because the Falcons ran the ball an NFL-high 559 times last year. So even if Robinson carries the ball 250 times, there are still plenty of carries to go around. Patterson’s role is a little bit more of a mystery, the story added. He'll be third on the team in carries, according to the author, but how far back he’s going to be is a question mark. The prediction is Patterson's 144 carries from a year ago could get cut in half this season.

“I mean, I feel like Daniel Jones [has] kind of been counted out the majority of his life,” Saquon Barkley told The Post this week. “He was a walk-on quarterback for Duke, and to get drafted to the New York Giants, everyone thinks he’s not going to be worth a thing, at all. I think he’s silenced all those critics.

“I don’t want to speak for DJ but he’s gonna come in every single day with the same mindset, be the leader that we need. You can see his swagger has grown a little bit more after being involved in the system, understanding the system even better.”

Barkley added everyone will see when the team is playing games. But he did mention a lack of consistency over the past several years going from Pat Shurmur to Joe Judge to Brian Daboll. Barkley added: “You get to be under a system for another year, have all the coaches basically come back, that just helps your confidence grow. When your confidence grows you get that swagger.” Meanwhile, you'll find Jones ranked 10th among our QBs this season. John Paulsen points out Jones was a top-10 fantasy quarterback in 2022 in his first season with Daboll, and that was with an injury-riddled (and suspect) receiving corps. Thus far, the Giants have added an impact tight end (Darren Waller) and re-signed both Sterling Shepard and Darius Slayton.

OC Mike Kafka said early in camp that it was “too early to tell” if Sauqon Barkley would be more of a receiver but “we’re practicing all kinds of things with people at every position.”

But it appears that the brain trust might be reconsidering because Barkley has been an early read on more passes — returning to a plan that was unveiled in May 2022 but scrapped before the season for reasons that Barkley declined to share on the podcast.

Related players: Matt Breida, Gary Brightwell, James Robinson, Eric Gray

The story pointed out the irony in Barkley potentially getting his wish to show that he can be a Christian McCaffrey-type dual threat is that the contract he finally agreed to — one-year, $10.1 million with an additional $909,000 in incentives — pays extra for a would-be career-high 1,350 rushing yards and for 65 receptions. But increased receptions, the story said, likely means fewer carries — making it difficult to hit both markers — to manage Barkley’s workload and keep him healthy. For fantasy purposes, an increased workload in the passing game would give a bump to Barkley's value in PPR leagues. Barkley had 91 receptions his rookie season but then 52 in 2019, 41 in 2021 and last year he had 57. He was injured most of 2020.

The Giants and star RB Saquon Barkley agreed to terms on a new 1-year deal worth up to $11M, as Barkley gives himself a chance to beat the franchise tag. He gets a $2M signing bonus. Bottom line: Barkley is coming in & will be at training camp.

Related Players: Matt Breida, Eric Gray

With no holdout looming, this locks Barkley into a top-10 fantasy RB. He still remains a little questionable as a mid-first-round option but should be targeted if he's dropping much further than that.

Saquon Barkley said recently at his camp that he will not make a "definitive declaration" about what he's going to do for the 2023 season until we get to the July 17th deadline for franchise-tagged players to get a long-term extension. Per Rapoport, there is still room for a deal. Talks are "back on" for a possible extension beyond the franchise tag.

Related Players: Matt Breida, Eric Gray, Gary Brightwell

This is a positive spin after Barkley mentioned less than two weeks ago that he would consider sitting out the entirety of the 2023 season if he needs to. A long-term deal for the running back entering his sixth year seems unlikely, but there's no doubt that Barkley remains one of the most talented backs in the league when healthy.

Saquon Barkley and the New York Giants have until July 17 to come to a long-term contract, or the running back will play 2023 under the $10.1 million franchise tag.

Unless he sits out the entire season.

Barkley told reporters Sunday following his youth football camp in Jersey City that sitting out the campaign is an option he'd consider if it comes to that.

Related Players: Matt Breida, Eric Gray, Gary Brightwell

Most fantasy players will remember the disastrous results that came when Le'Veon Bell sat out a season as an aging running back and the comparisons between that situation and this are pretty stark. It's quite the negotiating ploy but sitting out a season in what could be the twilight of his career is unlikely to translate to future success on the field.

Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell have had their turns with the ball to little success, so Eric Gray may be the most interesting dart throw while we ponder Barkley's future.

The New York Giants had conversations with Saquon Barkley's representatives last week. They'll "reconvene" now that the draft is over to see if there is a deal that makes sense for both sides at this point. An unhappy Barkley has not signed his franchise tag and therefore is not participating in the voluntary portion of the team's offseason program. The two sides were not able to reach an agreement on a new long-term deal prior to the tag deadline last month.

Related Players: Matt Breida, Eric Gray

Regardless of what you may think of Daniel Jones, it makes sense that the team made the quarterback a priority during the offseason if that's who they think will be their franchise signal-caller. Barkley has a right to be upset, but he also has a risky injury history that the team needs to take into account.

The Giants didn't add a ton to their pass-catching group through the NFL Draft, so if a deal can get done, and Barkley remains healthy, he should have a good chance to operate as the main cog of the team's offense.

New York Giants star running back Saquon Barkley does not plan to sign his franchise tender before the team's offseason program begins Monday, according to Newsday and ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Related Players: Matt Breida, Gary Brightwell

Barkley played a full season in 2022 for the first time since 2018. He was runner-up as the Comeback Player of the Year with his 1,650 scrimmage yards.

If the Giants do not sign Barkley to a long-term deal by July 15, he would make $10M in 2023 under the one-year franchise tender.

So Giants QB Daniel Jones gets his deal, 4 years and $160M with $35M more available in incentives.

Saquon Barkley gets the tag.

Jones was a top-10 fantasy quarterback last year in his first season with HC Brian Daboll. Given his ability to run the ball, he has a good chance to post low-end QB1 numbers again since the Giants are likely to improve his receiving corps. As for Barkley, we'll see how he responds to being tagged. Assuming he's willing to play in 2023 for top-5 money, he'll continue to be drafted near the 1st/2nd turn.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll just said it’s possible Saquon Barkley’s status for Sunday is in doubt. He hopes he will play but his neck is sore, so he will see.

Related Players: Matt Breida, Gary Brightwell

After coming out of the gate on fire, Barkley has cooled off immensely over the last three games, accruing only 124 yards on the ground while averaging 2.8 yards per carry. If he were forced to miss Week 14, Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell would likely split the workload, making each of them no more than an RB3 for fantasy purposes.