Avoid Drafting Saquon Barkley In Fantasy Football This Season If You Know What's Good For You

Mitchell Leff. Getty Images.

"Better a year early than a year too late" is an old adage that some of the greats like Bill Belichick subscribe to when cutting or trading players that could upset the fan base. 

Last year, I had the take that Saquon Barkley just wasn't that guy and boy was I wrong. He rushed for 2,005 yards and was fantasy football's best Runningback for the 2024 season. The Pardon My Take guys brought it up to Saquon a couple of weeks ago and he called me an "idiot"

But it's 2025 and there are some numbers I just cannot ignore. 28 as in year old and 482 which is the total number of touches Saquon Barkley had it last year. 

To put it into context, 350 total touches is a lot of touches. 482 for a 28 year old Runningback with an injury history?! That's simply not a draftable player in the first round of a fantasy football draft.

But don't just take my word for it. I decided to do a blind study and put it to the court of public opinion.

And wouldn't you know, the public says to avoid Player C. And wouldn't you know it:

Player A: Bijan Robinson

Player B: Jahmyr Gibbs

Player C: Saquon Barkley

Player D: Chase Brown

The public is saying based on these numbers he is the one guy you'd want to avoid with your first round pick! In the first round of a fantasy football draft, you want to get a safe, reliable option that will give you consistent scoring and based on his age, workload, and injury history, Saquon Barkley just is not that in 2025.

Heck, even espn is coming around to this thinking!

But just remember who was there first!

Catch our full Runningbacks preview of Fantasy Football Factory:

Along with our Receivers + Tight Ends Preview:

And a QB Preview: