It seems the studies of the dying of the dominant working again within the NFL had been drastically exaggerated.
There have been many “scorching takes” in the previous few years about backs being devalued within the NFL. And it’s true that, basically, offenses are extra pass-heavy than ever earlier than and that the realities of the wage cap could make it extra prudent to not make investments excessive first-round picks and exceptionally profitable contracts on working backs.
Moreover, discovering the very best worth at working again and saving {dollars} that may be unfold round to different positions is usually a smart method.
However there are exceptions.
The Philadelphia Eagles understood this—and it’s the first cause they’re in Tremendous Bowl LIX and dealing with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs subsequent Sunday within the Caesars Superdome.
Eagles CEO Jeffrey Lurie, normal supervisor Howie Roseman, head coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore knew Saquon Barkley was distinctive after watching him excel for six seasons with the NFC East rival Giants.
Lurie defined the Eagles’ thought course of shortly after they signed the previous Big to a three-year, $37.75 million contract final offseason.
“We’re all the time on the lookout for inefficiencies within the market,” Lurie mentioned at an house owners assembly final March. “And if we expect the league is overvaluing the place or undervaluing a place, we are going to strive our greatest … (to) reap the benefits of these inefficiencies.”
Working backs clearly had been being undervalued, and the Eagles noticed the worth in a uncommon working again similar to Barkley, who rushed for two,005 yards this season, the eighth most in a single season in NFL historical past. He completed 100 yards in need of Eric Dickerson’s report regardless of sitting out the ultimate sport of the season as a result of Philadelphia was locked into the No. 2 seed within the NFC.
It was the primary 2,000-yard season within the NFL since Derrick Henry had 2,027 for the Titans in 2020, which was the one different 2,000-yard season since 2013.
Barkley reversed a pattern that had seen the usual for particular person speeding yards drop constantly after Henry’s milestone season. The next league leaders—Jonathan Taylor (1,811 in 2021), Josh Jacobs (1,653 in 2022) and Christian McCaffrey (1,459 in 2023)—gained a median of almost 200 fewer yards than their most quick predecessors despite the fact that their seasons atop the speeding leaders coincided with the enlargement to a 17-game season.
Philadelphia leaned extra closely on Barkley throughout the stretch run. He averaged almost 25 carries per sport within the final seven video games he performed in throughout the common season after averaging almost 19 within the earlier 9.
After ending with a comparatively pedestrian 119 speeding yards and no touchdowns in a wild-card win in opposition to the Packers, Barkley had 205 speeding yards and two touchdowns in a divisional-round win in opposition to the Rams and 118 yards and three touchdowns within the NFC Championship win over the Commanders.
He has an NFL-record three 60-plus-yard landing runs within the final two video games. If he has one other landing run of 60 or extra yards in opposition to the Chiefs, he’ll turn into the primary participant in NFL historical past to have a 60-plus-yard landing run in three consecutive video games.
Barkley is successful again respect for working backs.
The final 11 NFL Most Useful Participant awards have been gained by quarterbacks, and nobody can be shocked if Lamar Jackson or Josh Allen had been to make it 12 straight, however Barkley has been broadly mentioned as a robust candidate. That alone is a fairly vital accomplishment in 2024-2025.
A working again hasn’t gained the Tremendous Bowl MVP award because the Broncos’ Terrell Davis did it 27 years in the past. Since then, 5 large receivers, three linebackers and one cornerback have gained the award.
If Philadelphia had been to win the Tremendous Bowl, the percentages are fairly good that Barkley would win the MVP award for that sport.
However no matter any particular person awards that could be forthcoming, Barkley and the Eagles have already proven simply how precious a working again nonetheless might be.
You’ve simply bought to seek out the appropriate one—like Philadelphia did.
