Saquon Barkley’s rookie season was a testament to all the reasons — speed, make-you-miss moves, soft hands — he is a big-play machine for the Giants.
Barkley’s second season is a reminder of one of the few scouting knocks attached to his name, long overshadowed by his premature Hall of Fame ticket: Too many carries for zero or negative yards.
If Barkley is healthy — and the ridiculous spin to escape a tackle for loss Sunday suggests that he is — then maybe this prolonged lull is just a part of his all-or-nothing running style. He finished with 17 carries for 59 yards (including a long of 22 on his last run) in a loss to the Bears, and he hasn’t topped 72 rushing yards in five games since returning from a three-game absence due to a high ankle sprain.