It’s already been over a decade since a running back claimed the NFL MVP award, but if anyone could end the drought, it’s Saquon Barkley. While history isn’t in his favor, the Philadelphia Eagles star is on pace to put together a record-breaking season.
After six seasons with the New York Giants, Barkley entered free agency following two Pro Bowl stints in the Big Apple, including his rookie season. The Giants opted to hitch their proverbial wagon to quarterback Daniel Jones, letting Barkley walk in what many fans immediately considered a major misstep.
The behind-the-scenes thought process to keep Jones was broadcast during the NFL’s past edition of “Hard Knocks.” Jones has already been released and signed with the Minnesota Vikings, the Giants are tied for the league-worst record [2-10], and Barkley is tormenting defenses as Philadelipa emerged as a Super Bowl contender at 10-2, the second-best record in the NFC behind the Detroit Lions.
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Through 12 games, Barkley has piled up a league-leading 1,499 rushing yards, nearly 100 yards more than Baltimore Ravens star Derrick Henry, the second-place rusher. With five games remaining, his current totals have already eclipsed his career-best 2022 campaign, where he rushed for 1,312 yards and ten touchdowns.
Barkley is averaging a career-high 124.9 rushing yards per game this season. Should he maintain his pace, Barkley will finish with 2,124 yards, surpassing Viking legend Adrian Peterson’s 2012 total of 2,097 and narrowly topping Eric Dickerson’s all-time single-season record of 2,105 set in 1984. Barkley’s offensive contributions go beyond numbers. In Week 9, he added to his extensive highlight reel with a perfectly executed no-look reverse hurdle against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The play became so iconic it’s already been immortalized in the Madden NFL. video game.
The NFL MVP award has been a quarterback-dominated accolade for years. The last running back to win was Peterson in 2012, thanks to his Herculean 2,097-yard season that carried the Vikings to the playoffs. Barkley will face an uphill battle against quarterbacks like Buffalo’s Josh Allen, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, and Detroit’s Jared Goff, all of who are ahead of him in the race according to NFL power rankings.
Eric Dickerson has the single-season NFL rushing record (
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Eric Dickerson ran for 2,105 yards in 1984 (
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The MVP conversation may be quarterback-heavy, but Barkley has still dominated games. He and Henry remain the only two running backs in the top 10 for award consideration. His 255-yard, two-touchdown explosion against the Los Angeles Rams proved he can take over single-handedly, and his eight 100-yard performances this season have highlighted his consistency.
If Barkley can keep up his current pace and help the Eagles secure a top playoff seed, he’ll have a legitimate shot at breaking the running back MVP drought. But if history serves correctly, he’ll also have to shatter Dickerson’s record in the process to earn the end-of-year trophy.
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