Saquon Barkley vs Jeremiyah Love

“Over the last two seasons, Barkley has averaged just 35 receptions for 275 receiving yards and two touchdowns. A decline in per-touch efficiency, as he nears 30, is also working against him, as he has steadily transitioned away from being a big-play threat and into more of a volume-based option at running back.”

“This means that former Jaguars back Tank Bigsby is likely the man behind Saquon Barkley to start the season. Barkley has been relatively healthy the past several seasons, though he is coming off his worst fantasy finish since 2021. Barkley is also on the precipice of his age-29 season, the age at which most running backs begin to decline rapidly in efficiency.”

“Saquon Barkley (RB, Eagles) was the top-rated player from the NFL Top 100 for the 2025 season.”

“Eagles RB Saquon Barkley recalled being annoyed by Sirianni during his time with the Giants, but his viewpoint changed after coming to Philadelphia. "When you're going against it, you can't stand it," Barkley said. "If you don't know Nick Sirianni, it's easy not to like Nick Sirianni."”

“He averaged 14.5 PPR fantasy points per game last season, his lowest mark since 2021. Furthermore, Barkley averaged 4.1 yards per rushing attempt and had 13 breakaway runs last year. By comparison, he averaged 5.8 yards per rushing attempt and had 25 breakaway runs during his 2024 fantasy MVP season. After finishing last year as the RB14, fantasy players should avoid drafting Barkley at his $31 value, the ninth-highest among running backs.”

“The former Penn State star averaged 14.5 PPR fantasy points per game last season, his lowest mark since 2021. Furthermore, he averaged 4.1 yards per rushing attempt and had 13 breakaway runs last year. By comparison, Barkley averaged 5.8 yards per rushing attempt and had 25 breakaway runs during his 2024 fantasy MVP season.”

“Barkley's target volume will be heavily dependent on Mannion's concerted effort to design opportunities for him. Should he neglect to do so, this will be more mediocre usage of one of the team's most explosive assets.”

“Barkley is a major beneficiary of this system, which heavily prioritizes RBs in the passing game via designed screens, wheel routes, and play-action checkdowns. In Mannion's timing-based scheme, play-action will freeze second-level defenders, leaving Barkley wide open on underneath routes to turn his 60 projected targets into high-value PPR production.”

“After finishing last year as the RB14, Barkley averaged 14.5 PPR fantasy points per game, his lowest mark since 2021, and averaged 4.1 yards per rushing attempt and had 13 breakaway runs, compared to 5.8 yards per rushing attempt and 25 breakaway runs during his fantasy MVP season in 2024. Fantasy players should avoid drafting Barkley as a mid-range RB1.”

“Saquon Barkley reached out to former Rams RB Todd Gurley to ask for his advice as he seeks to have a bounce-back season in 2026. Barkley said he felt he was able to get himself in better shape coming into the offseason with extra weeks to prepare after an earlier-than-desired end to the season.”

“Landing Saquon Barkley at pick 2.12 was ideal.”

“They also noted declines in some of Barkley's efficiency metrics over the last two seasons and questioned whether Philadelphia's offensive line could remain dominant enough to support another elite finish.”

“Love was always going to be the top pick in dynasty rookie drafts, regardless of his NFL landing spot. Unfortunately, the Cardinals were the worst of the four potential landing spots for the former Notre Dame star, as he will play behind a poor offensive line and for a team that will likely have to throw at a high rate in 2026.”

“For redraft, treat Love as a high-end RB2 with RB1 upside. The ADP is fair. You are not getting a discount, but you are not paying a premium either, and that is what we want from rookies as a rule.”

“Love was always going to be the top pick in dynasty rookie drafts, regardless of his NFL landing spot. Unfortunately, the Cardinals were the worst of the four potential landing spots for the former Notre Dame star, as he will play behind a poor offensive line and for a team that will likely have to throw at a high rate in 2026.”

“The Cardinals then, surprisingly, selected blue-chip prospect Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 overall pick, relegating Allgeier to a timeshare at best.”

“Jeremiyah Love is the clear RB1 with true three-down upside, rare receiving ability and the profile of a franchise cornerstone. In this class, talent scarcity outweighs position scarcity, making Love the obvious choice at 1.01.”

“If you take Jeremiyah Love at pick 19 on Fantrax, instead of pick 26 (his consensus ADP), consider the players you are skipping to roster a rookie with an uncertain role in 2026. Love certainly could come in and dominate in his rookie season, but we know that Tyler Allgeier and James Connor are on the roster, and this offense is in flux, with a quarterback battle still to come.”

“The Arizona Cardinals signed Jeremiyah Love to his rookie contract as part of their 2026 draft class.”

“Arizona went out and drafted Notre Dame superstar RB Jeremiyah Love with the No. 3 overall pick. Love comes with a prospect pedigree in the same tier as Saquon Barkley or Ashton Jeanty. With that kind of top-three draft capital, he is going to command a heavily featured, ground-and-pound role right out of the gate.”

“Jeremiyah Love was always going to be the top pick in dynasty rookie drafts, regardless of his NFL landing spot. Unfortunately, the Cardinals were the worst of the four potential landing spots for the former Notre Dame star, as he will play behind a poor offensive line and for a team that will likely have to throw at a high rate in 2026. However, Love is a core part of an up-and-coming offense that should be significantly better next season after Arizona improves its quarterback situation.”

“Jeremiyah Love is going as the RB9 on MFL, and while he has the talent to be a top running back in the NFL, this is a lofty goal for the rookie. He's entering a situation where many running backs will compete for touches, including Tyler Allgeier, James Conner, and Trey Benson, which is just way too much investment in a player on a bad team with other legitimate running back talent around him.”

“Love was always going to be the top pick in dynasty rookie drafts, regardless of his NFL landing spot. Unfortunately, the Cardinals were the worst of the four potential landing spots for the former Notre Dame star, as he will play behind a poor offensive line and for a team that will likely have to throw at a high rate in 2026.”

“While Arizona has a crowded backfield, that won't be the case when the season starts. James Conner and Trey Benson will be on other teams, leaving Tyler Allgeier as Love's only meaningful competition. Expect Love to produce enough in the passing game to make him far and away the top-scoring rookie running back.”