Saquon Barkley vs Malik Nabers

“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.”

“Stacking this on top of an expected positive regression back to the Eagles' 2024 run-blocking prowess (76.9 PFF grade – 4th) could rejuvenate his true RB1 ceiling.”

“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.”

“A major point raised was the historical difficulty of repeating massive workload seasons. The hosts emphasized that Barkley benefited from outstanding offensive line play and extremely favorable rushing conditions during his huge 2024 campaign.”

“We don't yet know the full timeline for Malik Nabers' recovery from a torn ACL and MCL, but there is a real chance he could end up on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list to start the season. If he does, and he misses the first four weeks of the season, Nabers can't be drafted as the WR11 at the beginning of the third round.”

“At his current cost, you are drafting him near his best-case scenario while ignoring the likely downside tied to recovery and early-season usage. Nabers is priced too aggressively on Sleeper, and the ADP simply does not leave enough room for the injury risk you will be facing.”

“Malik Nabers is one of the NFL's elite young receivers. His Sleeper ADP bakes in a full, immediate return to dominance despite real uncertainty coming off a major knee injury. Nabers tore both his ACL and meniscus, missed nearly the entire season and required a second procedure during rehab.”

“Harbaugh mentioned that the last few weeks have been encouraging and that Nabers is "doing great" and "made some real good progress in the last few weeks," though he will still be "building his way back to his ultimate full strength self" when he returns from his knee injury.”

“Malik Nabers is recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in Week 4. New York HC John Harbaugh said Nabers is spending a lot of time rehabbing at the team facility and is making "really good progress." Harbaugh added that Nabers is still around "70 percent" through his rehab.”

“Last year, he averaged 10.7 targets and 17.7 PPR fantasy points per game in his three healthy contests. Unfortunately, Nabers suffered a torn ACL in Week 4. More importantly, he recently underwent a second surgery to clean up his knee, putting his status for Week 1 in doubt.”

“Nabers and Jaxson Dart should have developed a strong connection by the fantasy playoffs. Last year, the Cowboys and the Lions surrendered the most and second-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.”

“Nabers underwent a 'cleanup' procedure on his right knee earlier in the offseason, removing scar tissue that was causing stiffness in his surgically repaired knee. His first surgery was for a torn ACL and a full meniscus repair, and the multi-ligament procedure combined with the secondary surgery represents a significant concern. Drafting Nabers as a WR1 in 12-team leagues or larger is entirely too ambitious given the significance of his injury and the likelihood of him missing time early in the year.”

“Take Malik Nabers, for example. Early in draft season, he was going near the end of the second round. Now, with the Giants adding WRs and his injury potentially lingering into Week 1, that early price looks a lot more fragile.”

“Giants HC John Harbaugh told reporters that WR Malik Nabers' rehab from knee surgery is complicated, noting it's not a simple knee injury. Harbaugh said the goal is for Nabers to start the season and get out there sometime in training camp, but it remains to be seen whether that will be the case.”

“With Malik Nabers (knee) being iffy for Week 1, this move helps provide depth the Giants wide receiver.”

“This conversation about his recent procedure to clean out scar tissue in his knee has me really worried about his availability to begin the regular season.”