New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley has returned in full force in 2022. He has consistently been the driving force of this Giants offense, and the entire game plan is structured around him.
Over the past two seasons, Barkley dealt with several injuries, ultimately keeping him off the field. During that stretch, he played in a total of 15 games. When on the field, he produced 627 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns on the ground. Through the air, he recorded 66 receptions for 323 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Now, through just 12 games in 2022, Barkley is on pace to surpass all of his numbers from the previous two seasons. With an improved offensive line, and Mike Kafka calling the plays, Barkley has once again found success. He has rushed for 1,055 yards and eight touchdowns on 242 total carries. Through the air he has been targeted 52 times, recording 40 receptions for 241 receiving yards.
But even with the success that Barkley has found this season, the Giants could still elect to move on from him during the offseason. The two sides are yet to agree on an extension, and Barkley will likely demand money that reflects just how good he has been on the field. With how loaded the RB class is in free agency for 2023, there are several, potentially cheaper options for Joe Schoen to consider. In this piece, we take a look at four possible replacements for Barkley if he heads elsehwere:
4. Bills RB Devin Singletary
Since being taken in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Buffalo Bills running back Devin Singletary has been a strong talent out of the backfield. Singeltary has appeared in 57 games, with 52 of them being starts. When on the field, he has been productive, totaling 2,935 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on 632 total carries. He has also been a reliable target through the air, recording 138 receptions for 917 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns on 183 career targets.
Throughout this season, Singletary has once again put together a strong campaign. In 12 games, he has recorded 603 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 137 total carries. Through the air, he has added 31 receptions for 226 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
While Singletary has still handled RB1 duties for the Bills this season, his potential replacement is already on the roster. In the 2022 NFL Draft, the Bills selected running back James Cook in the second round. His role has grown throughout the season, which could potentially lead to the team not re-signing Singletary.
Singletary could be the perfect addition to the Giants backfield. While he isn’t the biggest running back, he consistently manages to make plays, specifically in the red zone. Given Brian Daboll’s connection with the Bills, he may look to bring in a familiar face to the backfield. Singletary could be just that.