Saquon Barkley, along with the New York Giants’ offensive ineptitude, likely conspired to ruin your fantasy football playoff run over the last couple of weeks. That doesn’t mean the man can’t still make you some money. Barkley enters the final week of the season in a two-man race for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors with Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield. Barkley and the Giants will be facing off against a Dallas Cowboys team at the Meadowlands that is playing for absolutely nothing but pride.
Could Barkely end the year with a big day and separate himself from Mayfield in the process? BetDSI has compiled a nice little prop bet for your financial benefit.
Saquon Barkley total rushing yards for Week 17
Over 95.5
Under 95.5
Coming into the final week of the season, Barkley has 1,198 yards on the ground, 10 rushing touchdowns, 688 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns. The Cowboys come in with the No. 4 ranked defense and surrender an average of 91.33 rushing yards per game.
Barkley rushed 14 times for just 31 yards against the Tennessee Titans in a 17-0 loss two weeks ago. In Week 16, he carried the ball 21 times for just 43 yards and a touchdown. That’s an average of 2.11 yards per carry.
Heading to his first #ProBowl…
Every @Saquon touchdown so far! 💪💪💪 https://t.co/PcAa2LEuUl
— NFL (@NFL) December 19, 2018
Barkley, of course, was on a nice tear in the month preceding those two stumbles. He had four games over 100 yards and laid down 170 against the Washington Redskins back on Dec. 9. The potential is obviously there and Barkley is a future star in the league to be sure.
But the last time he faced these same Cowboys, he carried the ball 11 times for 28 yards and that wasn’t a blowout loss. Dallas won that game 20-13, so a solid performance from Barkley could have put them over the top.
Related: NFL Betting Guide
Barkley enters the final week of the season third in the league in rushing. He’s a good 236 yards behind league-leader Ezekiel Elliott and probably won’t catch him, even if Elliott only plays a few snaps. He is likely to pass up Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley, who currently sits in second place. Gurley’s problem is he’s been sitting, for at least a week, and will likely sit in Week 17 too as he recovers from a knee issue. If Gurley does stay in street clothes, Barkley can surpass him with 53 yards on the ground.
The first of many! RT to congratulate @saquon on his first Pro Bowl nomination! pic.twitter.com/9pUWgdgQdD
— New York Giants (@Giants) December 19, 2018
Barkley, along with Odell Beckham Jr., will be the centerpiece of the Giants’ offense for years to come, hopefully to be paired long-term with the quarterback of the future the team will desperately try to select in April 2019’s NFL Draft. There will be plenty of opportunities to get that rushing title for Barkley, even though it’s not realistic to expect him to throw down a 250-yard day against one of the league’s best defenses.
In his 15 games this season, Barkley has eclipsed 95 yards rushing only six times. Obviously, in the modern NFL, a running back’s contribution can’t only be made in the running game, but that’s not what this bet is about. Will Barkley hit 96 or more yards Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys? I don’t think he will. Under is the safest bet here.
Saquon Barkley needs 114 yards in Week 17 to become the 3rd rookie in NFL history with 2,000 yards from scrimmage.
Has 87 receptions. Needs 2 more to break Reggie Bush’s rookie record for RBs (88) in 2006.
Needs 5 catches to break OBJs NYG rookie record of 91, set in 2014. pic.twitter.com/IoBlIH7aH1
— Giants Fans Online (@NYGFansOnline) December 24, 2018
