Saquon Barkey has been one of the top running backs in fantasy football for much of his career. But for the first time since being drafted by the New York Giants in 2018, there’s a chance he could be wearing something other than big blue.
While more recent reports suggest it’s a “realistic possibility” that the Giants place the franchise tag on him for the second straight season, Barkley is still no lock to return to the Big Apple. Such a scenario would have major fantasy implications, as Barkley figures to be a top-30 overall fantasy pick in the majority of 2024 drafts.
Here are five landing spots where Barkley would be best served, in terms of both real and fantasy football, as he enters the seventh season of his NFL career.
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Chicago Bears
The Bears are about to make a huge splash with the expected addition of USC’s Caleb Williams with the top pick in the NFL draft, and they’re flush with draft capital due to last year’s trade with the Carolina Panthers for the top pick in 2023. With a likely Justin Fields trade also in the near future, the Bears will be in a great spot to build a crazy good offense around their rookie quarterback. With the fourth-most cash under the salary cap per Spotrac, imagine them adding Barkley? That would be an exciting proposition, both in terms of real and fantasy football.
Dallas Cowboys
This is my personal favorite as a Cowboys homer, but what if the Pokes went after their division rival’s best offensive player to replace free-agent-to-be Tony Pollard? Dallas already fielded one of the top offenses in the league a season ago, and that was with Pollard playing at a less-than-stellar level. The Cowboys also have a long history of fantasy success in their backfields over the years, and Barkley would just add to it. He’d be a top-24 pick as a member of Dallas’ offensive attack.
Houston Texans
The Texans went from laughing stock to winning a postseason game in one year, and their offense was a big part of it. C.J. Stroud has all the looks of a superstar at quarterback, and young wideouts like Nico Collins and Tank Dell were strong in the stat sheets. Their backfield could use an upgrade, though, as Dameon Pierce was a dud as an NFL sophomore and Devin Singletary is slated to become a free agent. The addition of Barkley would be a boon in both real and fantasy football.
Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers will likely move on from Austin Ekeler, which leaves a big hole in their backfield. While they’re not in the best position from a cap perspective, teams have a way of finagling things to their advantage. New coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman have always leaned on the run, and neither Josh Kelley nor Isaiah Spiller will cut it. So, Barkley would be a welcome addition and certainly remain a valuable asset if he switched coasts as a free agent.
Tennessee Titans
The Derrick Henry Era appears to be over in Tennessee, as the team starts anew with head coach Brian Callahan at the helm. Coming from the Cincinnati Bengals, whose backfield found success with Joe Mixon, adding Barkley would be a huge first step in recreating their offense. The Titans have the third-most cap space, and the team needs to put as many weapons around Will Levis as it can. Barkley’s addition would hurt Tyjae Spears, but he’d remain a draftable asset regardless.
