Latest news with #Barkley
New York Times
26 minutes ago
- Business
- New York Times
Saquon Barkley isn't the top fantasy football pick and shouldn't even be a first-rounder
Saquon Barkley shouldn't be a first-round pick in any fantasy football league next season, and it has nothing to do with the Madden Curse. I'm not even sure he should be selected in the first two rounds, given the massive gamble he represents in 2025. I realize that sounds ludicrous, but hear me out. Advertisement Barkley set all sorts of records this past season, but there's one milestone the Philadelphia Eagles star hit that might have gone unnoticed amid all the massive stats he piled up. Barkley carried the ball more times this year (436, including the playoffs) than any running back this century, with one exception: 2014 DeMarco Murray, who matched Barkley at 436. That name — and that workload — should scare the hell out of you. At 26 years old, Murray delivered a fabulous 2014 for the Dallas Cowboys, rushing for 1,845 yards and 13 touchdowns on 392 carries in the regular season to go along with 57 receptions and 416 receiving yards. He finished as the RB2 in half-PPR formats (Le'Veon Bell was awesome) before signing with the Eagles for his age-27 season. He then proceeded to deeply vex Philly fans and the fantasy owners who drafted him. Despite appearing in 15 games that season, Murray's production and efficiency nosedived. He delivered a career-worst 3.6 yards per carry en route to 702 rushing yards and six touchdowns to go along with 44 catches for 332 yards. So, a year after easily eclipsing 2,000 yards from scrimmage, Murray barely made it back to 1,000 the following year. He went from the RB2 (322.6) in 2014 to the RB15 (162.1 points) in 2015. Yes, you can counter that Murray switched teams, and the Eagles may not have been as adept at deploying him as the Cowboys a year earlier. And no, he wasn't an abject disaster (and it's fair to note he split carries with Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles that season), but he was a huge bust as a first-round pick in fantasy. Shockingly, as history is about to show you, for players who take on the workload Barkley just did, Murray's production in 2015 was just about the best-case scenario. And all of these other examples played for the same team following their massive seasons. Below you'll see the 12 running backs who totaled 400-plus carries in a single season (including the playoffs) this millennium, along with their total carries and fantasy finishes that year and the year after. Full disclosure: I almost included a column that displayed total touches for no other reason than to show you how ridiculously close Barkley came to touching the ball 500 times last year. He finished at 482. That's 54 more than Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs — a 23-year-old back being drafted behind the 28-year-old Barkley — has tallied in his first two NFL seasons combined. Fair warning, Barkley fans. The following graphic is not pretty. Grim, right? Murray and his RB15 finish the following year was indeed the best-case scenario. In almost every other instance, backs who shouldered this much workload went from bona fide RB1s to disasters for their league managers. Only four, including Murray, even managed to deliver RB2-type seasons, and all were around the same age as Barkley. Advertisement You know the old fantasy adage: 'You can't win your league in the first round, but you can lose it.' This is how you lose it. Specifically, drafting Barkley in the first round this year is how you lose it. You can go case-by-case — as I did — to see what happened to these backs, but the results won't surprise you. Their bodies just couldn't hold up. They either suffered significant injuries, played through injuries or simply couldn't regain the form they showed the previous year after pushing their bodies to their limits. Now, you might think that all these examples are dated. The NFL has undergone significant changes, and sports science has advanced substantially in the decade since Murray was in the NFL. Maybe. But I'd also suggest there's a reason the NFL stopped giving running backs the type of workloads the Eagles just thrust upon Barkley. (No regrets! They won a Super Bowl!) The last running back to approach 400 carries in a season was the king himself, Derrick Henry. In 2020, the then-26-year-old Titans running back carried the ball 397 times for the Titans, amassing 2,027 yards and 17 touchdowns to finish as the RB2. The next season? Henry played just eight games and finished as the RB18. It's also worth mentioning that entering that 2021 season, Henry had tallied 1,407 touches in his NFL career (regular season and playoffs). Entering the 2025 season, Barkley will have piled up nearly 600 more (1,996). Of course, Henry recovered in 2022 and has been one of the most consistent backs in fantasy since. Perhaps Barkley will prove to be even more resilient and deliver in 2025. He could defy all of the odds, but knowing what we know about his predecessors, there's no other way to look at this: He's a terrible bet to deliver RB1 production this season. The good news is that you don't have to make that bet. Just don't take him. Go with one of the elite receivers, like Ja'Marr Chase (who, coincidentally, The Athletic's Jake Ciely has as the 1.01 pick this year), or if you're hellbent on drafting an RB, Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Ashton Jeanty and Derrick Henry are much better bets to return RB1 value. Advertisement What you should do, instead, is short the Barkley market. Let others draft Barkley while you target his backups, Will Shipley and AJ Dillon. According to Fantasy Pros' consensus data, Shipley is RB78 and the 269th player overall, while Dillon is RB107 and the 349th player overall. In other words, they're free. And if/when Barkley goes down, you'll have a starting running back playing behind one of the best offensive lines in football. Finally, and this should go without saying, if you're in a dynasty league, it's time to move on from Barkley. Now. You can still likely get a massive haul from a contending team. Even if the managers in your league are wise enough to read articles like this, the temptation to add the consensus RB1 for the 2025 season will be too much to pass up. Take advantage. (Photo by Sarah Stier / Getty Images)
Time of India
an hour ago
- Business
- Time of India
'They don't call me Championship Chuck' – Charles Barkley once hilariously mocked Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George over playoff moniker
Charles Barkley. Image via:NBA legend and Hall of Famer Charles Barkley left no stone unturned when dissing out Philadelphia 76ers star Paul George as he got the playoff moniker Playoff P. Barkley's previous comment resurfaced with the irony of the nickname as George and his team were far from reaching the playoffs, which makes Chuck's roast hilarious among fans. Barkley added his response in a similar fashion as he paints a real picture of an NBA star while explaining about them. Charles Barkley roasts Paul George over playoff nickname Paul George. Image via: Getty Images In a recent episode of Inside the NBA on TNT , Charles Barkley was in his A-game of roasting NBA stars in his classic fashion. This time, Paul George was on the receiving end of the roast. "You can't call yourself Playoff P and lose all the don't call me Championship Chuck," Barkley said on the show. George, who is also known as PG-13, was ruled out for the rest of the regular season after receiving injections in his left adductor and left knee, the team announced. The nine-time All-Star, who signed with the Sixers as a free agent last offseason, never quite found his groove during the 2024–25 campaign. George appeared in just 41 games, averaging 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. George has returned to his Podcast P with Paul George during his offseason break. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Charles Barkley seemingly reveals retirement timeline after final NBA on TNT show Charles Barkley. Image via: Brandon Todd/ Getty Images Inside the NBA is set to shift from TNT to ESPN next season, and Charles Barkley shared that his days in front of the camera are numbered. Appearing on The Dan Patrick Show, the Hall of Famer said he's ready to step away for good in two years, despite a recently signed seven-year contract. 'I said I would work for two more years and that's what I agreed to,' Barkley said. 'The best I can do is two years.' Barkley's announcement comes at a major turning point in NBA broadcasting. After TNT lost its broadcasting rights, ESPN acquired Inside the NBA. 'Nobody knows what's going to happen,' he admitted. He added, 'If they start trying to work me too much between ESPN and TNT, I'm just going to walk on home,' he warned. For Barkley, he cares about the legacy and the chemistry he built with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O'Neal over the past two decades. Also Read: Giannis Antetokounmpo gets unexpected advice from NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal as trade rumors swirl around Milwaukee Bucks star More than once, Barkley has expressed concern over ESPN's format and style. He's been openly critical of the network's tendency to over-script, over-commercialize, and overhype big-market teams. From calling out ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins to questioning the network's obsession with Los Angeles stars, Barkley hasn't held back, and it has grabbed wide attention among fans.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Please take Saquon Barkley off the Madden 26 cover
Please take Saquon Barkley off the Madden 26 cover Let me start this off by saying that Saquon Barkley's Madden cover looks awesome. There's no question about that. It's Barkley flying through the air doing the reverse hurdle with the help of some strings this time, instead of just purely defying gravity on his talents alone. As soon as Barkley pulled that move off against the Jaguars last season, I knew that he'd be the cover athlete for the next Madden game no matter how the Eagles' season ended. The move was too awesome. It was immediately added to the game, for crying out loud. From that very moment, everyone else was coming in second place for the cover. Learning Barkley's status as this year's cover athlete was simultaneously blissful and devastating for me, as an Eagles fan. Seeing one of your favorite players on your favorite team pull off the impossible is great. Recognizing that his moment would be honored and immortalized through the rest of time with a Madden cover is pretty cool. This is a game I grew up playing. He's the first Eagle to grace the cover in 20 years since Donovan McNabb did for Madden 2006. That's awesome. But, on the other hand, that's precisely how I know the Madden curse is real. Before you call me ridiculous, just hear me out! It's a real thing, guys. McNabb tore his ACL in November of 2006 after being named the Madden cover athlete. You can't tell me this isn't a thing. My team has lived through it. And, yes, I know that in recent years the curse hasn't been as strong as it once was. But tell that to Christian McCaffrey, who was named the Madden 25 cover athlete only to have his season go up in flames because of injury. Is Saquon Barkley great enough to avoid the curse? I'd love to believe so as a fan. But I'm also not here to take any chances. I'd like to see my team repeat for the first time in my life. I don't need Madden getting in the way of that. EA Sports, I will never forgive you if this season goes up in flames. A dynasty is done Honestly, I can't believe I'm typing this. But the greatest dynasty in modern college sports has come to an end. On Monday, Texas Tech shocked the world, beating Patty Gasso's Oklahoma Sooners in the Women's College World Series semifinals. Here's Cory Woodroof on why this is so shocking: "Since there was not a WCWS in 2020, the last non-Oklahoma winner was 2019's UCLA. The Sooners have won every title in this decade. Only three other schools (UCLA, Florida State and Florida) have won WCWS titles since 2013 since Oklahoma has won seven national titles in that span." To be very clear, Texas Tech is absolutely awesome. The story is more about how fantastic that team is rather than Oklahoma's failure. Seeing NiJaree Canady pitch in the WCWS is going to be a blast. She's the reason Tech has advanced this far — she's thrown every pitch for the team on their path through the WCWS. She'll need to be just as excellent in the championship as Texas Tech takes on Texas. What a run for Tech. What an ending for Oklahoma. This is what sports are all about. Don't talk about NBA Finals ratings The very moment we had an Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Finals locked in, the conversation online has shifted away from basketball and toward TV ratings. Because we're about to watch two small-market teams play each other at the NBA's mountaintop, there's been a lot of hand-wringing about whether people will actually watch this series or if it'll be the first NBA Finals broadcast solely on NBA TV (of course, that's not happening). But that entire conversation is so fruitless. Robert Zeglinski spells it out here: "Why do you care about the NBA's potentially low finals ratings? Do you watch high-level sports purely so you can feel like you're one of the NBA's C-suite executives? Do you like to imagine you get to wear a fancy little suit to the NBA's offices in Manhattan? Do the NBA's profit margins really "worry" you more than any of the basketball being played? Actually, do you even care about the basketball, or do you just want to diminish two small-market franchises and fanbases finally experiencing a hint of success in a league with a history of nonexistent parity? Does downplaying the inherent, wonderful magic of championship-caliber sports teams, which is why most of us well-adjusted people watch, make you feel like a better person? Why? You know what? All of that is rhetorical. Don't even bother answering. Instead, grow up and stop hemming and hawing about something that has nothing to do with how you should experience any sort of sports." Ratings don't matter — whether we're talking about the NBA or any other league. Watch the games or don't. Either way, there's no skin off your back. Quick hits: More Stefon Diggs drama ... Paul Skenes trade rumors? ... and more — Will the Patriots cut Stefon Diggs for his boat video? Charles Curtis has more here. — Here's Bryan Kalbrosky on Jeff Passan walking back Paul Skenes trade rumors. — Rebecca Lobo is urging Fever fans not to panic in Caitlin Clark's absence. Cory Woodroof has more. — The Indiana Pacers should really be thanking the Phoenix Suns right now. — Bill Simmons is ripping Pablo Torre for his reporting on Bill Belichick and Jordon Hudson. — Jac Caglianone's reaction to being called up to the Royals is perfect. Andrew Joseph has more. That's a wrap, folks. Thanks for reading. Peace. -Sykes ✌️ This was For The Win's daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here.
USA Today
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Saquon Barkley talks Madden curse, cover hurdle: 'I've had injuries before'
Saquon Barkley talks Madden curse, cover hurdle: 'I've had injuries before' Show Caption Hide Caption Ashton Jeanty talks all things Las Vegas Raiders and his hopes in the NFL Ashton Jeanty spoke with USA TODAY Sports about his upcoming rookie season with the Raiders and his partnership with Sharpie. Sports Seriously Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was chosen to be the cover athlete for Madden 26, the latest installment in EA Sports' popular NFL video game franchise. The 28-year-old isn't worried about becoming the latest victim of the proverbial "Madden curse" after his selection. Barkley was asked by Tom Pelissero on NFL Network's "The Insiders" whether he believed in curses, specifically the one associated with appearing on the Madden cover. "Nah, I'm a believer in God," Barkley replied. "That's my mindset, to be completely honest." Saquon Barkley discusses Madden curse Some superstitious Eagles fans might cringe at the thought of their superstar running back on the cover of the video game franchise. Barkley – who became the ninth NFL player to rush for 2,000 yards in a single season last year – remains unbothered by the superstition. "I've had injuries before. I tore my knee, I stepped on a foot and rolled my ankle and was out 4-to-6 weeks, and there was no curse then," Barkley said. "That's just how life works. You're gonna have your ups and downs, but my mindset is coming in, work, do what I need to do, and the rest is in God's hands." The idea of the Madden curse dates back to Madden 1999, when San Francisco 49ers running back Garrison Hearst became the first athlete to appear on the international edition of the game's cover. Hearst enjoyed a quality 1998 NFL season, running for 1,570 yards and seven touchdowns with the 49ers. However, he suffered a gruesome broken ankle in a playoff game against the Atlanta Falcons. Complications from the injury – including avascular necrosis, which caused a bone in his injured foot to die – kept him out of the league for two seasons before he returned to play for the 49ers in 2001. Since then, numerous stars to grace the Madden cover have also dealt with injury issues. That includes Madden 25 cover athlete Christian McCaffrey, who was limited to four games in 2024 because of Achilles tendonitis and a PCL sprain in his knee. Meanwhile, the cover athletes who have remained healthy have often seen a step back in production. NFL FREE AGENTS: Best fits for Keenan Allen, Aaron Rodgers, more Saquon Barkley Madden cover: How it was made The Madden 26 cover features a snapshot of Barkley's iconic hurdle from the 2024 NFL season, during which he jumped backward over Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jarrian Jones. Barkley revealed during his interview with NFL Network that he received help in recreating the jump. "I would love to say I actually have that body control, but I would just be lying to you," Barkley said, referencing a brief clip he shared of the shoot on social media. "I was strapped in there and they're pulling me up." Barkley credited the shoot with helping him to realize just how difficult his reverse hurdle was to execute. "That's when I realized the play that I had when I jumped over someone backwards, how special it was," he said. "When we had to recreate it, I was like, 'I don't know if I feel comfortable doing this not in the midst of a game.'" Barkley also explained that being strapped into the harness to create the cover photo wasn't necessarily easy. "It made me grow so much more respect for any superhero – Spider-Man, Superman any of those guys, those actors or actresses that have to put that on and perform," Barkley said. "Shoutout to them."
NBC Sports
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- NBC Sports
Saquon Barkley: We know the recipe, just have to stick to it
Saquon Barkley will be on the cover of Madden after running for 2,005 yards and helping the Eagles to a Super Bowl win in his first season with the team, so it's no surprise that he calls the last year of his life one 'that you dream about.' It's not a dream the running back thinks has to end anytime soon. During an appearance on NFL Network Monday, Barkley said that the team's offseason work has seen players 'coming in and buying in, training really hard, competing at a high level' and that recent additions to the team are 'buying into the culture right from the beginning.' Barkley said that has reinforced his belief that the Eagles can stay on top after winning the Super Bowl for the second time in franchise history. 'The best way I can answer that question is success is not an accident,' Barkley said. 'We know the recipe. We know what it takes. We can't skip any steps to get to where we want to get to. Last OTAs it was the same thing, and we already know how training camp's gonna be and we know how it's gonna be during the season. We know the recipe, and we just got to stick to it and a little bit of luck when that comes in with staying healthy. We do that, with the talent that we have and the coaches that we have, we'll be in a good position.' Barkley's time with the Giants taught him well that luck with injuries plays a major role in determining how things play out over the course of a season and there are a number of other bounces that need to go a team's way over months and months in order to wind up as Super Bowl champions. The Eagles know that and they also know that they need to be well prepared for all possibilities, which makes the focus that Barkley has seen this spring all the more important.
