Ah, the NFL season! A time when people gather around their oversized televisions, eating snacks that are definitely not good for them—and when it’s socially acceptable to shout at men in tight pants as if they can hear you. Speaking of tight pants, let’s talk about the Philadelphia Eagles and their dazzling new addition: Saquon Barkley. Who knew that snagging a running back from the NFC East rival Giants would turn out to be one of the best decisions since someone thought wearing cheese on their head was a good idea in Wisconsin?
The Philadelphia Eagles are one of the top four teams in the league—just a few weeks into the season, and they’re strutting their stuff like they’re peacocks on parade. And what do they owe this newfound swagger to? You guessed it: the incredible Saquon Barkley! After leaving the Giants (who, let’s be honest, might as well have been training for a snack-eating contest rather than a football season), he signed for a cool three years and $37.5 million. Now, if they ever come out with a reality show about NFL contracts, that’s going to be prime time viewing!
With 1,649 combined yards so far (1,392 rushing and 257 receiving—talk about being versatile!), Barkley is playing like he’s possessed by the spirit of a thousand running backs. He’s already sporting 12 touchdowns and just crushed the Philadelphia franchise’s record for rushing yards in a game. If that doesn’t get the fans screaming, nothing will! Well, maybe a few touchdowns more… but we can’t be greedy, can we?
Now, let’s talk about projections. If Barkley keeps up his current pace, he’s on track for a staggering 2,151 rushing yards and 2,548 total yards across the season. That would be right up there in the conversation for the best season ever by a running back! You’d have to wonder if he has some kind of cheat code because he could surpass Chris Johnson’s legendary 2009 record of 2,509 yards! Watch out, Chris; your name might just be replaced in the record books by Barkley—with a dash of swagger and a splash of glitter!
But hold your horses for a second! Despite this electrifying performance, Barkley is not the top contender for MVP in the betting world, which is shocking considering he’s on the verge of rewriting history. Right now, he sits with odds of +475, trailing behind Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, who probably have a few more commercials under their belts than our beloved Barkley.
The unfairness of running backs in MVP voting is like a game of musical chairs where the chairs are reserved for quarterbacks. Barkley’s in a tough spot, much like that last slice of pizza at a party—everyone wants it, but everyone’s being polite! Just ask Christian McCaffrey; he led the league in yards and touchdowns last year but was dubbed “only” the Offensive Player of the Year while Lamar Jackson took home the MVP award. Even Todd Gurley found himself robbed of MVP votes in 2017, leaving him looking as bewildered as a cat in a dog park.
The last running back to don the MVP crown was the great Adrian Peterson back in 2013, when he snagged it with the Minnesota Vikings after racking up 2,097 yards. That year, it felt like he was split into two players with how well he was performing! And let’s not forget that the only person who dared to take votes away from him was Peyton Manning—talk about a QB bias!
In conclusion, Saquon Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles are poised for greatness, and we’re all here for it! But let’s hope that the voters don’t forget about those running backs who work as hard as they do. After all, they’re the ones who often carry the team on their backs—or more specifically, their calves. And who wouldn’t want to see a running back in the MVP spotlight? That’s the kind of drama even reality TV would envy!
After 12 weeks of thrilling action in the 2024 NFL season, The Philadelphia Eagles have emerged as one of the top four teams in the entire league, bolstered significantly by the strategic signing of star running back Saquon Barkley during free agency. Barkley, previously with the New York Giants, made a bold move to join the Eagles, sealing a lucrative deal that spans three years and is valued at $37.5 million. As the season unfolds, this contract increasingly appears to be a savvy and beneficial investment for the Pennsylvania-based franchise.
Barkley currently leads the NFL with an astounding total of 1,649 combined yards, a figure that includes 1,392 rushing yards and 257 receiving yards. Moreover, he ranks as the second overall player in the league for total touchdowns, having reached the end zone 12 times this season. The running back’s performance has been nothing short of remarkable, highlighted by a recent game where he not only achieved a personal milestone but also set the Philadelphia franchise record for rushing yards in a match.
With his current pace, Barkley is projected to finish the season with an unprecedented 2,151 rushing yards and a total of 2,548 yards from scrimmage, potentially securing one of the most remarkable seasons ever recorded for a running back. This could notably eclipse the legendary 2,509 yards that Chris Johnson amassed in 2009. Additionally, he is on track to achieve a stunning 19 total touchdowns this year, further solidifying his position as a key player in the league.
Despite these impressive statistics, Barkley currently does not lead the MVP race according to betting houses. With odds of +475, he finds himself behind Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who stands at +150, and Lamar Jackson at +250, as per the latest updates from DraftKings.
The most challenging aspect for Barkley in his MVP bid is that running backs have faced increasing neglect in recent years. Last season, Christian McCaffrey led the league in both total yards and touchdowns from scrimmage but only received the Offensive Player of the Year award while quarterback Lamar Jackson was voted MVP. In a similar instance from 2017, Todd Gurley managed to garner eight of Tom Brady’s 50 MVP votes.
The last time a running back was honored with the NFL MVP award was in 2013, when Adrian Peterson claimed the prestigious title as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. That season, Peterson accumulated an impressive total of 2,097 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns, along with an additional 217 receiving yards and one touchdown reception, securing 30.5 of the 50 MVP votes cast. The only competitor who posed a threat to Peterson’s MVP candidacy was Peyton Manning.
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