New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley has firmly established himself as one of the elite players at his position. It appears former Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz feels he may even be better than Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley and Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott
Barkley has already been mentioned, via TMZ Sports.
“He's No. 1 in my opinion. He's done the most with less this year. So, he's a phenomenal player.”
Cruz's comments may seem a bit premature. However, it is hard not to buy into the hype surrounding Barkley considering how he has performed this year. Perhaps even more impressive is that the rookie has managed to surpass the high expectations that were placed on him prior to the 2018 NFL season.
The Giants caught some flak for picking a running back over a potential future franchise quarterback. Fortunately, Barkley has fit the billing of being an immediate impact player for this offense. He has netted 1,124 and nine touchdowns on 209 carries. Not only is he the team's workhorse on the ground game, but he has also been one of their most valuable weapons in the passing game after hauling in 78 receptions for 629 yards and four touchdowns.
There is no question that Barkley has made a case for himself as an elite running back. However, it is still a bit far-fetched to put him above the names he mentioned. Gurley is the reigning Offensive Player of the Year and the driving force behind one of the most high-powered offenses in the NFL. Elliott is in the midst of trying to secure his second rushing title in three years. Barkley will first need to snatch a few of these honors away from them before Cruz's statement can be up for debate.
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