Realistic expectations for the New York Giants in 2019

Saquon Barkley was one of the best running backs in the NFL last season as a rookie, and you should fully expect him to improve going into the 2019 season.

Saquon Barkley became only the third rookie in NFL history to surpass 2,000 all-purpose yards in his first season in the NFL, not only that but he leads the league in yards after contact with 931. These, among many other reasons, are why you should fully expect Barkley to improve during the 2019 season.

Barkley is one of the strongest, if not the strongest running back in the NFL, and this is why he manages to break out for so many yards after his first point of contact. His ability to change direction in the flip of a switch and run with so much power allows him to get past nearly every defender in his path.

If you don’t believe me, here is a video from Amazon Prime’s Series ‘All Or Nothing’ where Luke Kuechly was trying to break down film on Saquon Barkley ahead of their week five matchup:

Luke Kuechly is one of the best linebackers in the NFL and the fact that he had such high praise for Barkley’s skill and ability, goes to show you how talented Barkley is.

If one of the best defenders in the NFL says he runs incredibly strong, has an excellent balance and great lateral ability, you know that he is only going to get better over time.

In addition to the fact that Barkley now has a year’s experience under his belt, the Giants passing game took a major hit during the offseason with the trade of Odell Beckham jr. This being said, it is pretty likely that the Giants utilize Barkley even more than they did last season.

Whether it be on the ground with handoffs, or through the air with short dumps, you can expect Barkley to have the ball in his hands very often during the 2019 season, and he will put up even better numbers in his second year than he did in his rookie season.