Who Should I Start? Saquon Barkley or Josh Jacobs

Monday, March 11, 2:57 PM

Free-agent running back Saquon Barkley is signing with the Philadelphia Eagles on a three-year, $37.75 million deal. The deal includes $26 million in guaranteed money and has an additional $9 million available in incentives. After a 2018 rookie season that saw the former Penn State star go for over 2,000 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns, he has struggled to stay healthy over a chunk of the next five years of his career. He missed 21 games from 2019 to 2021. He bounced back in 2022 with 1,312 rushing yards but regressed to 962 yards in 14 games in 2023. However, the Eagles believe in him as a game-changing running back, as his average salary ($12.58 million) ranks only below Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, and Jonathan Taylor. Although the Eagles' offensive line could take a hit after the retirement of Jason Kelce, Barkley should be playing behind the best offensive line of his career in 2024. He will have an immediate high-end RB1 upside in fantasy football.

Tuesday, March 26, 2:04 PM

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur implied that we'll see more of new running back Josh Jacobs in the passing game than the 40 catches per year he averaged in five seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. "Just studying him, I think there's more out there for him in regards to the passing game, using him out of the backfield. He's put some really good choice routes on tape. That's something we always try to get to," LaFleur said. Despite Jacobs ranking second in carries since entering the NFL behind only Derrick Henry, don't expect that to change how the Packers split carries in their backfield with AJ Dillon re-signing. However, there's a possibility Dillon doesn't make the team, so Jacobs' spot as the feature back is about the only sure think in Green Bay's backfield. Even if Jacobs losing carries to Dillon or another back in Green Bay, his increase in receptions should keep him afloat as an RB1 in fantasy in his new home.