Saquon Barkley was a consensus top-10 fantasy RB this summer. He's currently the RB33. Here's why his slow start isn't a fluke and why he's headed toward his least productive per-game season.
This past Monday night, Barkley had two opportunities at the goal line. He couldn't punch it in. Those were his first two attempts inside the opposing five-yard line in 2026. Unfortunately, his usage in these high-leverage situations has declined in recent years. Assuming this trend continues, he'll find it tougher to score.
Speaking of which, the Eagles' scoring has dropped since Barkley's dominant 2024 campaign. The loss of A.J. Brown and Dallas Goedert's injury haven't helped. But on paper, their competition this year has been modest at best: the Commanders,
Titans, and Bears. Their schedule on balance will be tougher the rest of the way, including during the fantasy playoffs, when they'll face the Seahawks, Texans, and 49ers.
Most notably, Barkley's plummeting targets are a bright red flag. As a rookie, he averaged 5.7 catches on 7.6 targets per game. Both have steadily declined. Last year he netted 2.3 receptions on 3.1 targets per game. This year it's 1.0 catches on 2.0 targets per game.
A 29-year-old facing this many headwinds is a troubling sign. Barring significant increases in touchdown opportunities and targets, Barkley is on track to become one of this year's biggest RB fantasy busts.
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This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Saquon Barkley: fantasy bust or turnaround candidate?
