EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.— There seems to be no limit to Saquon Barkley’s upside.
Just when it seems the New York Giants’ rookie running back has shown just about everything he can do on the football field, the second overall pick in the NFL draft finds another way to impress people.
Take a look at Sunday’s’ 30-27 overtime win over the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears.
While Barkley failed to score for only the fourth time 12 games, he rushed for 125 yards on 24 carries and helped set up 13 points.
His 22-yard run on a third-and-23 draw play set up a team-record 57-yard field goal by Aldrick Rosas on the final play of the half. The play that had everyone talking was his 17-yard catch and run that ended with his hurdle over former Penn State teammate Adrian Amos. It led to a 1-yard touchdown pass from Eli Manning to Odell Beckham Jr .
Finally, there was his 29-yard run on the first play from scrimmage in the overtime. Rosas capped the drive with a 44-yard field goal that provided the winning margin when the Giants’ defense stopped Chicago on the final series.
“I said it early and I really believe it, he’s got a generational spirit in terms of how he competes, and I have not been – WE have not been – disappointed in (any) way,” Coach Pat Shurmur said of Barkley on Monday. “He’s extremely talented running the ball, catching the ball, he blocks well, we’re doing what we can to give him the football so he has an impact on the game, and I think he has.”
Barkley’s statistics are impressive. His 954 yards rushing are third in the NFL behind the Rams Todd Gurley (1,175) and the Cowboys Ezekiel Elliott (1,150).
Catching three passes for 21 yards also gave Barkley 74 catches, tying tight end Jeremy Shockey (2002) for the second-highest total by a Giants rookie. Beckham holds the franchise rookie record with 91 in 2014.
Barkley has downplayed his statistics all season, but he knows the significance of running for 1,000 yards. He would need 46 yards Sunday against Washington to hit the mark.
“It would be special because obviously one, it’s the NFL, and two, when you get 1,000 yards, it’s not just yourself getting 1,000 yards, it’s your team getting 1,000 yards. It’s the offense and especially the offensive line,” Barkley said.
Barkley needs 444 yards to become the third rookie in league history to reach 2,000 yards from scrimmage.
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