4. NY Giants running back Eric Gray
You've got to feel for rookie running back Eric Gray. With Barkley potentially sitting out the season-opener, fans are already assuming he'll be the starting RB to take on the Dallas Cowboys in primetime on Sept. 10. Gray just wrapped up his first offseason program with the G-Men, as he was a fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.
With people now calling for him to be the next man in line, there's plenty of pressure on him from out of nowhere. This is a young man who hasn't even suited up for an NFL game in his life, and now he has Big Blue supporters expecting him to handle the load for the Giants against the Cowboys if Barkley indeed doesn't show up for that game.
Gray is an exciting young running back, don't get us wrong here. However, he's now going to be brought up in the drama between the G-Men and Barkley. It's not fair for him at all. A standout for Oklahoma last season, Gray rushed for 1,366 yards and 11 touchdowns. He's a bruising back, no doubt, but let's pump the brakes on already throwing him into the starting 11 for camp and Week 1.