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Ron Stewart fantasy football takes on Saquon Barkley
Every source-backed video insight STACKED has extracted from Ron Stewart about Saquon Barkley.
14
Insights
12
Positive
1
Negative
Insight ledger
All Ron Stewart insights about Saquon Barkley
NegativeProjectionJul 27, 2026
Ben Gretch uses Saquon Barkley as a cautionary example of rushing efficiency collapse despite improved offensive context. Barkley posted 5.7 yards per carry in 2024 and was drafted in the first round in 2025 based on that efficiency, but his rushing efficiency cratered in 2025 despite playing in a much better Eagles offense. The efficiency decline occurred partly due to an offensive coordinator change in Philadelphia, illustrating the risk that elite rushing efficiency cannot be relied upon to carry a running back's fantasy value year-over-year.NegativeProjectionJul 11, 2026
Barkley had the highest RB target share under Jalen Hurts last year at 10.7%; while AJ Brown's departure could theoretically increase his target volume, the Eagles added other pass catchers to the offense, and the speaker is not fully convinced the target share will rise meaningfully. Rushing efficiency gains (e.g., 4.5 to 5 yards per carry) from Manion's under-center scheme are overrated in fantasy; the real money in PPR is target share, and Barkley would need either 50+ catches or 2,000 rushing yards to reach 20+ PPG, neither of which is likely given Hurts's historical reluctance to dump down to RBs. The speaker finds himself drafting more Saquon than desired; when zooming out on implied points, the Eagles' top-15 offensive output and top-5 OL suggest he should be valuable, but he is overexposed to him at his ADP relative to the actual upside case. However, the thought experiment around under-center play-calling and potential pass-game involvement has made the speaker not totally out on Saquon in round two; he thinks Saquon is kind of fine where he goes, though he prefers Omar Khan and Chase Brown as bets.PositiveProjectionJun 26, 2026
Going as RB26 (high-end RB3) with expected 12+ points per game in a Seahawks situation with an elite offensive line, similar to his Eagles environment where he thrived.PositiveProjectionJun 26, 2026
Saquon Barkley's success was driven by being on an Eagles team with amazing scoring environment and one of the best offensive lines in the league, demonstrating how environment matters as much as talent.PositiveValueJun 26, 2026
The analyst has been taking Saquon Barkley at the 201 ADP over and over again, indicating strong conviction in his value at that draft position.PositiveProjectionJun 26, 2026
Barkley hit two of the top 15 fastest ball carrier speeds last year at 21.68 mph and 21.87 mph, showing he's not washed. The analyst has him a tier ahead of Derrick Henry, Amani Hampton, Kenneth Walker, and Devon Achane at the one-two turn.PositiveRoleJun 26, 2026
New Eagles OC Sean Mannion wants Jalen Hurts under center more with increased play action, which should boost Saquon's efficiency. Under center last year he had 4.92 yards per carry and 7.4% explosive run rate, compared to 3.54 yards per carry and 2.9% explosive run rate out of shotgun/pistol.PositiveProjectionJun 26, 2026
In games without A.J. Brown, Barkley is on pace for 76 targets and 60 receptions over a 17-game season, compared to 45 targets and 34 receptions in games with Brown. If he hits 50-plus receptions, he can reach 20-plus points per game and be an absolute smash at the one-two turn.PositiveRoleJun 26, 2026
New Eagles OC Sean Mannion wants Jalen Hurts under center more with increased play action, which should boost Saquon's efficiency given his 4.92 yards per carry and 7.4% explosive run rate under center versus 3.54 YPC and 2.9% explosive rate from shotgun/pistol.PositiveProjectionJun 26, 2026
If Saquon reaches 50-plus receptions this season, he could reach 20-plus points per game and be 'an absolute smash at the one-two turn.'PositiveUsageJun 26, 2026
In four games without A.J. Brown, Saquon was on pace for 76 targets and 60 receptions compared to 45 targets and 34 receptions over 28 games with Brown, suggesting significant receiving upside.PositiveProjectionJun 26, 2026
Despite finishing as RB14 in points per game last year amid Eagles dysfunction, Saquon is positioned for a bounce-back with A.J. Brown's departure freeing up targets and touches.PositiveValueJun 26, 2026
Analyst is drafting Saquon at 201 ADP in 17.3% of drafts and calls him his most drafted player in the top 15 picks, saying 'I'm honestly all in' on him at this price point.PositiveProjectionJan 16, 2026
Saquon Barkley was the standout running back in 2024, topping out at 22 PPG. He was one of only five RBs to finish with 20+ PPG (alongside McCaffrey, Gibbs, Bijan, and Achane)—the most since 2018. However, Ron Stewart notes that even Barkley's elite production 'still wasn't crazy at a high-end,' indicating the overall high-end RB production ceiling was not exceptional compared to historical standards. Barkley was positioned above the green line on efficiency charts in the 96–108 ADP range.