During the 2018 NFL Draft, there was little debate that the New York Giants were getting a “once in a generation” player in Saquon Barkley.
He played three seasons for the Penn State Nittany Lions and had at least 1,000 rushing yards per year.
Barkley also scored 43 touchdowns in college, 18 of which came in his final season.
He added three receiving and two kickoff return touchdowns.
That great campaign made him a First-Team All-American by Sporting News, Associated Press, ESPN, and the Football Writers Association of America.
Therefore, it’s a no-brainer that the Giants took him with the second overall pick.
Barkley proved that they made the right decision during his first two years.
During his rookie campaign, he rushed for 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He added four receiving touchdowns to win Offensive Rookie of the Year and gain a Pro Bowl selection.
In his sophomore year, Barkley finished with 1,441 total yards and eight touchdowns in 13 games.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t the same starting year three.
He had a good start with 66 total yards versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.
But he suffered a season-ending ACL tear a week later against the Chicago Bears.
He missed 14 games, but his rehabilitation went on track to make a return in the 2021 season opener.
However, he looks like an old Saquon Barkley, not the Barkley of old.
He opened the season with ten carries for 26 yards against the Denver Broncos.
One week later, he had 57 rushing yards versus the Washington Football Team.
Barkley finally scored a touchdown in Week 3 against the Atlanta Falcons but finished with 51 yards.
In Week 4, he had a rushing and a receiving touchdown in their win over the New Orleans Saints.
Giants Need More From Barkley
It’s uncertain whether the Giants are taking it easy with Barkley since ACL injuries can be tricky.
However, the Giants need more production from him to reach the playoffs for the first time in six seasons.
He is averaging 9.3 yards per reception but has only 130 receiving yards through four games.
However, it’s in the run game that he must regain his All-Pro form.
Barkley averaged five and 4.6 yards per carry in his first two seasons, respectively.
But in the first four games of 2021, he’s generating 3.6 yards per carry.
He also has three total touchdowns, and quarterback Daniel Jones has more rushing yards than him.
The Giants will face division rival Dallas Cowboys in Week 5, and they need a breakout game from Barkley.
Unfortunately, wide receivers Sterling Sheppard and Darius Slayton will not play due to hamstring injuries.
Therefore, they will need production from other players, especially Barkley.
It’s time for him to have a breakout game to reintroduce himself as one of the league’s top running backs.
Defeating the Cowboys won’t be easy because they have a high-powered offense.
Likewise, Ezekiel Elliott returned to form in Week 4 against the Carolina Panthers.
That performance should inspire Barkley to break out of the shell and help the Giants win at all costs.
His team needs him more than ever and he must deliver in a big way.
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