A Strong Start and A Strong Finish In 2019
Prior to being injured in Week 3, Barkley posted back-to-back 100-yard rushing games to open last season. A 59-run in Week 1 helped him get to 120 on just 11 carries, and 55 of his 107 in Week 2 came on the opening drive of that game. But results are results, and fantasy football is a bottom line business.
From Week 15-Week 17, Barkley had 63 carries for 393 yards and four touchdowns, along with 11 catches for 146 yards and another score. He looked like himself and delivered big , even if a pace of close to 2,100 rushing yards over 16 games is not sustainable.
Over the small sample of Week 1-Week 2, Barkley was RB5 in standard scoring and RB6 in full PPR. From Week 15-17, he was RB1 in both. It can be argued those where the only five games he was fully healthy all season, and he acknowledged the psychological aspect of his high ankle sprain.
It’s unlikely Barkley will get anywhere near 121 targets this year, as he did as a rookie. But 90 targets is a solid expectation, with 70-75 catches. Based on how Ezekiel Elliott was used in Dallas, 280 carries might be a minimum for Barkley this year.
You don’t have to squint too hard to see a path to being the overall RB1 in fantasy for Barkley in 2020. At the very least, he’s a better bet to do it than McCaffrey is to repeat.
Saquon Barkley 2020 Projection: 285 carries for 1,340 yards, 12 TD; 71 receptions for 640 yards, 2 TD
