Why Saquon Barkley IS the MVP Frontrunner: Unprecedented Production Meets a Glacial Talent Level

So far in 2024, Saquon is statistically one of the best players in the NFL, and the “old, over-the-hill” (per the Giants) RB has achieved a speed statistic that not just no RB, but no other player can claim this year…

When the New York Giants decided to let Saquon Barkley test free agency, I’m not sure they saw their worst nightmare imaginable playing out in real time.

That is exactly what has happened this season as the Giants’ organization is a landfill fire, they cut the player they chose over Saquon (despite giving that player a contract Saquon could never dream of), and meanwhile Saquon’s production is among the best in the league at any position.

Barkley’s value – which was once minimized so clearly by the Giants’ front office during this year’s offseason version of Hard Knocks – has never been clearer that it is today: he’s one of the most valuable players in the NFL.

But this season he’s proved that he’s not just among them: he is the most valuable player in the league.

At the moment Barkley is leading the NFL in rushing yards in an era where Roger Goodell is essentially begging teams to pass, and he’s not doing it due to being force-fed carries as he’s averaging a superhero-like 6.2 yards per carry (leads the NFL among RBs with over 30 carries).

Averaging over six yards per carry has been not only due to playing with the best quarterback and offensive line of his career, but it’s also due to Saquon’s seemingly perfect combination of size, speed, strength, agility, and vision.

Like a Madden create-a-player you cranked all the sliders to 99 on, Barkley can spin defenders out of their shoes, truck directly through them, or throw them halfway across the field with equal ease.

Check out this insane play against his former team where Saquon explodes through the line of scrimmage, makes a safety crumple with a quick cut, and then drags multiple defenders on his back to get the ball to midfield:

Saquon Barkley goes for 176 yards on just 17 carries in his return to MetLife.

Saquon’s 10.4 yards per carry is the highest in Eagles’ history (min. 15 carries). 🔥

(h/t @TBagleySports)

pic.twitter.com/m2UrHDEzss

— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) October 20, 2024

Right now, Barkley ranks sixth among RBs in yards after contact (per FantasyPros), and his explosiveness is seemingly always topping the charts as he’s cracked Next Gen Stats’ Top-20 Fastest Ball Carriers list a mind-boggling five times this season, and he is the only player who has more than three appearances on that list.

More importantly, Saquon leads the NFL in runs of 10+ yards, runs for 30+ yards, runs of 40+ yards, and runs for 50+ yards.

As another evidence of his crazy efficiency and production, this time out of the backfield as a receiver, Saquon also leads RBs with less than 35 targets in yards after contact on receptions.

He’s also breaking tackles at maybe the highest rate of his career, and he’s pulling out moves we’ve never even seen on a football field before:

“We’re not paying our QB 40M to turn and hand the ball off” https://t.co/VqhxiZvAht pic.twitter.com/hLG6AYkFhq

— Vote The Process (@VoteTheProcess) November 4, 2024

According to Next Gen Stats, Saquon’s creativity as a runner is paying massive dividends as he leads the NFL in rushing efficiency, rushing yards over expected, yards per carry, and he ranks second to only Derrick Henry in rush yards over expected per attempt.

And while Derrick Henry and others are certainly making their MVP case, it is Saquon Barkley who currently leads all non-QBs in total scrimmage yards with 1,649 which is 200 yards more than any other player.

For an example of Saquon’s elite vision, acceleration, and agility, see this play against the Fidel Castros Commies where he makes a safety (#20) completely miss, then explodes through the second level for a game-sealing touchdown:

SAQUON AGAIN! The @Eagles pulling away on TNF.#WASvsPHI on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/pnyd9XtzBk

— NFL (@NFL) November 15, 2024

To the untrained eye, that play might look like Saquon was simply able to run untouched to the endzone due to the Eagles’ dominant offensive line completely changing the line of scrimmage (per usual), but his quick jukes combined with forcing the last line of defense to take the wrong angle was absolutely critical to that game-winning run.

Additionally, while he had a devasting drop that likely cost the Eagles a win, after which the national media promptly pointed to stats about his total career drops, Saquon is currently boasting only a 2% drop rate and he ranks third among RBs in passer rating when targeted (per Pro Football Reference).

Unless you’re in the camp that believes the NFL’s Most Valuable Player award is simply a quarterback award and always will be and should be, there simply isn’t an argument for any other player other than Saquon Barkley for this year’s MVP when you consider his impact on his team, his talent level, and the fact that he is leading in the league in so many categories.