Saquon Barkley fantasy outlook: Should you draft Eagles RB in 2024?

Saquon Barkley has been one of the best overall fantasy football running backs so far in his NFL career. He has finished in the top 12 in his position in four of the last six seasons but will enter a brand new situation in the 2024 campaign after switching teams for the first time.

Here's where his fantasy outlook currently stands.

Should you draft Eagles RB Saquon Barkley in 2024?

Saquon Barkley

Saquon Barkley has spent all six seasons of his NFL career with the New York Giants. He switched teams during the offseason to join one of the Giants' NFC East divisional rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles. This creates an interesting situation for his fantasy value ahead of the 2024 season.

The superstar running back is joining a higher-scoring offense which is beneficial to his fantasy value, but he will also need to overcome more competition for targets on a loaded roster. He is expected to serve as their featured running back giving him plenty of upside as one of the best players to target in fantasy football.

Saquon Barkley 2024 fantasy outlook, ADP and 2023 stats

Despite missing three games during the 2023 season, Barkley still finished as the RB12 in total fantasy points scored. He did so by recording 288 touches for 1,242 scrimmage yards and 10 total touchdowns. The Eagles should give him additional scoring opportunities in a better offense than the Giants so his 2024 fantasy outlook includes an extremely high ceiling.

Barkley is currently ranked as the RB5 and 11th overall player in fantasy football drafts this year according to his ADP. Team changes always come with a certain amount of risk but the upside associated with this one gives him a legitimate opportunity to outperform his ranking.

Is Saquon Barkley a good pick in fantasy football this year?

Barkley is not necessarily a safe pick at his current ADP considering his extensive injury history and changing teams for the first time in his career. This gives him a lower floor than many of the other elite options this year although he will also bring more upside than most of them due to an improved offensive situation.

He is expected to serve as the featured running back on a dominant rushing offense without any real competition to challenge his backfield workload. Barkley should also get more opportunities at touchdowns in a higher-scoring offense despite the Eagles often utilizing quarterback Jalen Hurts in their red zone rushing attack. This makes Barkley a high-risk, high-reward option at his ADP.

Where should you draft Saquon Barkley this year?

Who Should I Draft

Barkley can be targeted in the later stages of the first round of 2024 fantasy football drafts as an RB1 on most rosters based on his current ADP of RB5 and 11th overall. He is a solid pick in the first round but his value climbs much higher as an excellent choice in round two.

Sportskeeda's Who Should I Draft tool suggests taking the Eagles' new running back over many other potentially elite options this year. This includes fellow veteran Derrick Henry who also switched teams for the first time this year.

Rising stars De'Von Achane and Kyren Williams are other options but with inferior projections to Barkley, making him a strong pick at his ADP.