David Chao, MD
2 min read • May 16, 2022
Posted in
Giants’ bowling ball dual-threat running back Saquon Barkley struggled through the 2021 season as he eased back in from a September 2020 torn ACL.
His season was also derailed by a nagging left ankle sprain, but that should have no lingering effects on his 2022 campaign.
After a complete organizational revamp in New York, Barkley will be counted on to return to his pre-injury dominance.
According to ProFootballDoc, Dr. David Chao, Giants’ brass and fantasy owners can expect a significant bounce-back season for Barkley.
The 25-year-old could be a massive value pick this season, as he has dropped down into the RB2 tier and is being valued as a low-to-mid-30s pick in redraft leagues. He also represents a juicy trade target in dynasty leagues.
The Penn State product came out of the gates galloping in his first two seasons, totaling 3,469 yards from scrimmage on 621 touches and reaching the end zone 12 times while playing behind an aging Eli Manning, rookie Daniel Jones, and a porous offensive line.
Barkley suffered a torn ACL with multi-ligament damage in Week 2 of 2020, keeping him out for all of his third season.
The second year post surgery, ProFootballDoc says, is when a running back really gains full use of the surgically repaired knee. The ACL is key for deceleration and cutting, two keys when making moves in the open field.
Two (relatively) recent examples give credence to the optimism on Barkley. Vikings’ back Dalvin Cook suffered a torn ACL Week 4 of his rookie season.
After posting 612 rushing yards and 305 receiving yards in 11 games during his first season back, Cook exploded for 1,654 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns and ranked as the No. 5 fantasy scorer among running backs.
The second is a little further back, as Knowshon Moreno tore his ACL in 2011, and after rushing for 525 yards in eight games in 2012, he gained 1,586 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns on 301 touches the following season.
Despite being slower and less agile, Barkley was still the most effective offensive player for the Giants last year, totaling 857 yards in 13 games.
He may not be the surefire top three pick he once was, but he could represent significant value if he does drop into the third or fourth round.
The Giants’ offensive improvements could also help in his comeback.
New York addressed what was one of the worst offensive lines in football by replacing four of the five previous starters. The Giants drafted right tackle Evan Neal No. 7 overall and left guard Joshua Ezeudu in the third round. They also signed veteran interior linemen Mark Glowinski and Jon Feliciano to pair with mainstay left tackle Andrew Thomas.
If the Giants can get more consistent play from Daniel Jones and more explosive plays from their wide receiving corps, Barkley could see a sizable increase in efficiency and scoring opportunities.
The New York Giants are +8000 to win Super Bowl LVII and are +700 to win the NFC East, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Their win total is at over/under 7.5.
Written by David Chao, MD
