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We can talk about how much Sunday’s Week 7 clash between the Eagles and Giants means to the landscape of the NFC East, though we’d be lying if we didn’t admit all eyes will surely be focused on Saquon Barkley.
The former Giants NFC Offensive Rookie of the Year and two-time Pro Bowler is set to make his awaited return to MetLife Stadium as a rivaled Eagle, and books are expecting a show.
The lowest line available on his rushing yardage prop is 78.5 at FanDuel, which makes for his highest line of the season.
Before we get into game context, let’s chat numbers: At age 27 and fresh into a three-year contract with Philadelphia, Barkley is progressing toward a career year on the ground.
With five games under his belt, he is collecting 96.4 yards per game — a rate that exceeds his previous plateau in 2022 by 14.4.
This Giants’ defense faces him having yielded 5.2 yards per carry, the third-most in the league.
Part of why Barkley has gotten so much sunlight this season is a better offensive line.
Even without Jason Kelce, this Eagles unit is an improvement on what he ran behind with the Giants.
It has opened the door for Barkley, Jalen Hurts and Co. to trot toward the sixth-most rushing yards per game.
But that O-line will be contending with an elite Giants pass rush that has accrued 26 sacks through its five games.
Hurts could hand the rock off early and often while also using Barkley for checkdown passing, which is pointing me toward the running back’s total yardage prop.
Barkley isn’t getting utilized in the passing game nearly as much as he did with the Giants — he’s seeing 3.4 targets from Hurts.
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But he’s made enough due having dropped just three of 17 total balls, and he has reeled in a score.
No matter what the Giants’ game plan is to defend Barkley on the ground, I especially like his receiving upside considering the Giants allow the sixth-most receptions and yards to opposing running backs.
If Aaron Jones and Brian Robinson Jr. were able to hit the triple-digit mark in Weeks 1 and 2 versus the Giants, Barkley is in a promising position to get last laughs on his former employer.
The play: Saquon Barkley Over 99.5 Rushing+Receiving Yards (FanDuel -114)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Sean Treppedi handicaps the NFL, NHL, MLB and college football for the New York Post. He primarily focuses on picks that reflect market value while tracking trends to mitigate risk.