New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley had a sensational debut season in the NFL, ultimately taking home the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and cementing himself alongside the likes of Eric Dickerson and Edgerrin James, who are the only other players to eclipse 2,000 yards from scrimmage in their first season.
After such a tremendous rookie campaign, it should come as little surprise to anyone that Barkley graded out at the top of the NFC East courtesy of Pro Football Focus.
However, the more interesting part is that it wasn’t even close.
Considering Barkley had come in under such tremendous pressure and was immediately thrust into the role of bell cow, his ability to adjust on the fly and excel thanks to his athleticism can not be under-stated. It was a Hall of Fame-like performance from a player who had never before stepped foot on an NFL field.
It’s almost hard to believe that Barkley is just now scratching the surface of his potential, which bodes well for both he and the Giants going into 2019.
