Heavy Workload Raises Warning Signs for Barkley In 2025

Saquon Barkley has had an outstanding 2024 season with the Philadelphia Eagles, which has caused excitement as well as trepidation among fans and fantasy analysts.

Barkley rushed for a combined 2,504 yards—including playoffs—while surpassing Terrell Davis's long-held single-season rushing record. After this performance, he was awarded the award for Offensive Player of the Year and is now well-regarded as one of the best backs in the league.

However, his 436 carries over the season — a number only matched by DeMarco Murray in 2014 — have raised red flags. Historically, running backs who exceed 400 touches in a season often struggle to replicate their success. Murray, for instance, fell from a top-tier RB2 to RB15 the year after his high-volume season, a pattern that has also played out with others.

Barkley, who signed a three-year, $37.5 million deal with the Eagles after six seasons with the New York Giants, was later rewarded with a two-year, $41 million extension following the Eagles' Super Bowl win. Despite the chance to break Eric Dickerson's all-time single-season rushing record, the Eagles chose to rest Barkley in Week 18 to ensure his readiness for the playoffs.

Looking to the future, analysts predict Barkley's total career touches will come close to 2,000 as he enters the 2025 season, making him a risky option in fantasy football.

Many fantasy football analysts warn against drafting Barkley in the first round. For example, Barkley was 27 years old and has a lot more wear and tear on his body than Gibbs or Robinson. In dynasty leagues, it may be time to trade Barkley while his value remains high. Investing in his backups — rookie Will Shipley and veteran AJ Dillon — is also advised.

Barkley appeared on Chris Long's Green Light podcast, where he was asked whether he'd retire at his peak or keep playing until he physically couldn't — and his response might not be what fantasy managers, or anyone else, were hoping to hear. Barkley's taking a low-key approach. “I'll probably [be] one of those guys that it would be out of nowhere,” Barkley said. “I'll probably just wake up one day, whether it's next year or two years or four years, and just be like, ‘yeah, it's over.'"