You have arrived at this article because you have a decision to make in either the late first round or early second round of your fantasy football draft. Should you roll with Saquon Barkley, Jahmyr Gibbs, or neither?
Let’s break it down below.
Who to Draft: Saquon Barkley vs. Jahmyr Gibbs (2024)
Should You Draft Saquon Barkley?
Saquon Barkley has joined the Philadelphia Eagles, which gives him a boost in terms of offensive line. However, Eagles QB Jalen Hurts will likely continue to see short-yardage touchdowns (with the tush-push too), which could dampen some of Barkley’s value. On top of that, Philadelphia doesn’t have a track record of featuring their running backs in the passing game.
Bottom Line: Barkley could be more efficient as a runner this season, but potentially less work in the passing game without real touchdown upside is worrisome.
Dominate your draft: Check out our 7 Fantasy Football Sleepers article to find the sneaky-good picks we are targeting in fantasy drafts!
Should You Draft Jahmyr Gibbs?
Jahmyr Gibbs was brilliant as a rookie last year, even while splitting carries with David Montgomery. The two will still cohabitate in the Detroit backfield, and some might wonder if it’s worth spending a first-round fantasy draft pick on a guy in a timeshare. But Gibbs was outstanding with his workload last year, and he’s clearly the more explosive runner. There’s reason to believe that Gibbs could pick up a larger role in his sophomore season.
He has scored 14 touchdowns in his last 14 appearances, including the playoffs.
Bottom Line: If Gibbs replicated his 1,200 total yards and 11 touchdowns from last year, he would come close to paying off this value. If the end of last year (and the playoffs) are any indication, he’s ready to go beyond that.
Who to Draft?
Who to Draft: Jahmyr Gibbs
Confidence Level: Medium-High
Join the Best Props Newsletter for FREE
Win More. Research Less. Become a smarter prop picker and fantasy player in just two minutes per day.
