- Penn State RB Saquon Barkley will have an opportunity to extend a new found trend of elite running backs being drafted in the first round. He enters the 2017 season as a PFF Day 1 projection and ranks near the top among running back prospects.
- Over the last two seasons, Barkley has shown that he should be in the conversation for the next top running back. During that stretch, Barkley has graded in the top 15 positionally and his 85.0 grade overall ranks No. 2 among returning FBS running backs.
- Barkley has produced as an explosive runner and in 2016 he ranked No. 3 among draft-eligible running backs taking 9.8 percent of his runs for 15 or more yards.
- Elusiveness is also a strength of Barkley’s game. In 2015, he lead the nation in elusive rating at 126.7 and while he regressed in this area in 2016 he still ranked No. 11 among FBS running backs (87.5). Barkley forced a missed tackle on 27.0 percent of his carries ranking No. 4 among draft-eligible running backs.
- Barkley will likely try to reduce negative plays in 2017. Last year, Barkley earned no yards or negative yards on 23.2 percent of his carries, fifth-most among draft eligible running backs.
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