Saquon Barkley vs Josh Jacobs

“Likely everyone’s biggest question around the Eagles is, can Saquon Barkley bounce back in 2026? The simple answer is yes; it is in the range of outcomes. However, the reality is that Saquon is 29 and getting older.”

“For 2025, Saquon had an 8% greater success rate running Outside vs Inside Zone .”

“While a minor post-Super Bowl efficiency dip was baked into 2025 projections, Saquon Barkley ’s drop from RB4 draft capital to an RB14 positional finish exposed severe infrastructure cracks.”

“After finishing last year as the RB14, fantasy players should avoid drafting Barkley as a mid-range RB1.”

“Saquon Barkley (RB – PHI) After running laps around the position in 2024, Saquon Barkley’s finish of RB14 was a shock. Despite only missing one game, he scored 214 fantasy points compared to the 339 points he scored in 2024.”

“Given the season he had in 2024 and the expectations created for gamers, Barkley may have produced the most disappointing 1,413-yard, 9-touchdown season in history. Regression was certainly expected coming off his historic run the year before, and a lot went wrong for this offense.”

“Add this all up — plus another 300+ projected touches — and Barkley could be looking at another top-five season at running back at a significant discount on Fantrax. He has a realistic path to another 1,500 yards from scrimmage and 10+ touchdowns.”

“With a new offensive coordinator and a healthy offensive line, it's not hard to start seeing the positives for Barkley. The Eagles running back is the undoubted No. 1 RB on an offense that will score points.”

“Barkley had an absurd number of touches in 2024 and ran hot on explosive runs. Once he and the Eagles were hit with regression, it was no wonder things crashed back to Earth.”

“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.”

“1 | Diff: +5 Josh Jacobs has been the RB8 and RB9 in fantasy points per game during his two seasons in Green Bay.”

“31 10 21 James Cook 13 5 8 Josh Jacobs 7 15 -8 Saquon Barkley 2 13 -11 Bucky Irving 10 33 -23 In past years, so many top RBs have gotten hurt that the Zero (or hero) RB draft strategies have become popular.”

“Running Back For the RB1 cutoff, one analyst goes as deep as Josh Jacobs around RB15, while the other draws the line one tier earlier at Derrick Henry.”

“Josh Jacobs (RB – GB) Josh Jacobs finds himself in a similar situation to Saquon Barkley, but for very different reasons. Unlike Barkley, who has a new offensive coordinator and is on a team primed to bounce back from top to bottom, Jacobs finds himself in a very similar situation to last season.”

“The swift decline in Josh Jacobs' market value has everything to do with the legal cloud hanging over him. He was arrested in late May on domestic violence allegations. While he was later released, prosecutors say the investigation is still ongoing.”

“With starting running back Josh Jacobs entering his age-28 stride, and also being the alleged perpetrator of domestic violence, Lloyd may finally get a shot to play meaningful snaps for the Packers.”

“Josh Jacobs might be the biggest value in early fantasy football drafts. Despite finishing as a productive fantasy back last season, Jacobs is currently being drafted outside the top 12 running backs in many formats. The case is simple: Green Bay trusts Jacobs near the goal line, he remains heavily involved as an early-down runner, and his receiving floor is underrated.”

“Josh Jacobs at 299 [college touches] is one of only two other backs who had fewer than 400 college touches and were first-round picks.”

“Josh Jacobs' legal situation makes things a bit cloudy for the upcoming season, but it's never a bad thing to stockpile running backs.”

“Jacobs will be subject to the league's personal conduct policy and will likely face a suspension ahead of the 2026 season, pending the league's internal investigation.”

“Jacobs' attorneys announced that their client "vehemently denies" the allegations against him: "Josh vehemently denies the allegations, and this matter is in the early stages of investigation with important evidence that has not yet been made public."”

“Jacobs turned himself in to the Hobart-Lawrence Police Department in Wisconsin after the incident occurred on Saturday, May 23.”