Saquon Barkley

Since returning from a high ankle sprain in Week 7, Saquon has not looked like himself averaging only 41.2 rushing yards per game. He also had a career worst 13 rushes for 1 yard against the Jets prior to the bye week.

Some have speculated that he is still not quite 100%, as he doesn’t seem to be hitting the hole as hard. Barkley looks like a back who is playing carefully due to an injury when that is the exact opposite of what makes him a great player. When asked if Shurmur would consider shutting him down for the rest of the season, both he and Barkley threw cold water on the notion.

Now with two weeks of rest, it is time to see whether or not Barkley is truly healthy and if he can get back to being a difference maker in year two. The run blocking has also been a major problem as Barkley was hit at the line of scrimmage on 11 out of 13 carries against the Jets. The Bears give up 95 rushing yards per game and the Giants only average 94 on their own side.

The hope is, Barkley will be used more in space as he is still capable of the explosive play if you look back at his 65-yard catch and run against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9. The Giants need to take a page out of the 49ers’ (game-winning dump off to running back Jeff Wilson) and Chargers’ (8 catches, 108 yards and a touchdown on Monday night) playbooks when utilizing Barkley in space in the passing game. Barkley is clearly a matchup nightmare and if his route tree is expanded this week (wheel, flare, seam, angle) there won’t be many who can stop him on the Bears defense.