No non-quarterback has won NFL MVP since 2012, and if somebody is going to do it this year, odds are Saquon Barkley is the guy.
The Penn State legend and Philadelphia Eagles star had one of the most dominant games an RB has had— in this is no hyperbole— in NFL history against the Rams Sunday night.
He set an Eagles record for single-game rushing yards with 255 and rushed for two touchdowns of 70 and 72 yards. Barkley also added 47 yards receiving, giving him 302 total. That ranks among the most an RB has ever had in a road game.
Most scrimmage yards in a road game:
336- Flipper Anderson (11/26/1989)
330- Billy Cannon (12/10/1961)
307- Priest Holmes (11/24/2002)
303- Jim Benton (11/22/45)
303- Josh Jacobs (11/27/22)
302- Saquon Barkley (Tonight in a 37-20 @Eagles win vs the Rams)
302- Cloyce Box (12/3/50) pic.twitter.com/vGWv5AtHp4— StatsCentre (@StatsCentre) November 25, 2024
Right now, two quarterbacks still stand above the rest in MVP odds. But Saquon is right there per FanDuel Sportsbook.
HEARING FOOTSTEPS
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 02: Penn State Nittany Lions RB Saquon Barkley (26) during the second quarter of the USC Trojans game versus the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Rose Bowl Game on January 2, 2017, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. (Photo by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire)
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Josh Allen (+135) and Lamar Jackson (+300) are still the favorites. Next is Barkley (+650). He’s narrowly ahead of Jared Goff (+700) and Patrick Mahomes (+800). The next highest-rated running back, Derrick Henry, is all the way down at +10000. Henry is behind 10 quarterbacks, which should illustrate how difficult it is for any player who doesn’t play that position to win NFL MVP. It also illustrates how good Barkley is.
THE CLEAR FRONTRUNNER
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 14: Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs for a touchdown during the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Commanders on November 14, 2024 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire)
Barkley isn’t yet the favorite to win MVP but he is the front runner for Offensive Player of the Year. At -320, he’s well ahead of Henry, who is +650.
The Eagles are in action again next Sunday, facing Jackson, Henry and the Ravens in Baltimore at 4:25.
