Athlete Stats Profile: Saquon Barkley

What else can you say about Saquon Barkley that hasn’t been said? He’s the NFL’s premier running back and among the best to ever do it. The best way to appreciate his greatness is to watch him live, though the numbers also matter. After all, they’re how you get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Here’s a Saquon Barkley stats rundown and why he’s an exceptional athlete. 

The Illustrious Career of Saquon Barkley

Running backs become a dual threat when they can run between the tackles and catch passes. Luckily for the Eagles, Barkley can do both. Let’s look at these stats separately to see why he’s such a menace to opposing defenses. 

Saquon Barkley’s Rushing Yards

How many rushing yards does Saquon Barkley have in his seven seasons? The superstar has 7,216 rushing yards to his name, which ranks 65th all time. He’s not far behind active players like Joe Mixon and Ezekiel Elliott, so another big season could get him closer to athletes like Derrick Henry. If he gets 2,000 yards again, he’ll enter the top 40. 

Could Saquon be the NFL’s all-time leading rusher? Catching all-time greats like Jim Brown may be out of the question, but he can realistically reach the 10,000-yard mark. NFL offenses in the 21st century rely less on the run game than the old teams did, so exorbitant stats like Emmitt Smith’s are harder to come by. 

While he might not be the top for career yards, he had a monster season on the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2024, he eclipsed 2,000 rushing yards and secured 8th place on the single-season list. Saquon Barkley’s stats could’ve earned the rushing record, but he sat out week 18 against the New York Giants. 

Saquon Barkley Receiving Stats

The Eagles’ lead back is most famous for his rushing attempts — after all, he had 345 carries in the 2024 season. However, he’s also a significant threat in the passing game. Barkley has accumulated 2,378 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. If not for a torn ACL in 2020, he could’ve padded his stats and become even more impactful. 

The best season for receptions was his rookie season in 2018. Eli Manning targeted Saquon 121 times and connected on 91 passes for 721 yards, totaling four touchdowns. He matched his receiving touchdown mark in 2023 with four touchdowns, though he only had 280 yards and 41 catches. 

Saquon Barkley’s receiving stats fell off with the Eagles, earning just 33 catches and 278 yards. However, that number deserves context because of the Philadelphia offense. The coaching staff typically took Barkley off the field in passing situations and inserted guys like Kenneth Gainwell.  Barkley’s massive workload meant he had to take breaks. 

Saquon Barkley Career Fantasy Football Stats

When you do a fantasy football draft, Saquon Barkley should be one of your top guys in any format. Elite running backs are hard to come by, so snagging him when you can is a must. In 2024, Barkley was the second-best at his position in a points-per-reception (PPR) format, but he was the top dog in half-PPR leagues. 

Saquon’s best finish in PPR came in 2018 when he was the league’s leader. That season, he trailed only Patrick Mahomes for total fantasy points and even beat Christian McCaffrey! Other notable running backs from that season included Todd Gurley II, Alvin Kamara and Ezekiel Elliott. Barkley has finished as an RB1 in half-PPR formats in the last three seasons. 

The question many fantasy football fans are wondering is how long Saquon Barkley can dominate the field. Running backs fall off a cliff as they age due to reduced athleticism and age, and Father Time is undefeated. However, he should still be a first-round pick in every redraft league this fall. If he somehow falls to the second round, please scoop him up. 

Saquon Barkley Stats Roundup

Career rushing yards	7,216
Career receiving yards	2,378
Career scrimmage yards	9,594
Career rushing touchdowns	48
Career yards per carry	4.7
Season-high rushing yards	2,005
Season-high rushing touchdowns	13
Season-high yards per carry	5.8
Season-high receiving yards	721
Season-high receiving TDs	4
Longest run (yards)	78
Longest reception (yards)	65

Best Plays of Saquon Barkley’s NFL Career

The kid from the Bronx, New York, has played 90 regular-season games and six playoff games. Through nearly 100 games, he’s put on a show for fans and detractors in the NFC East. Here are a few notable moments in the past seven seasons. 

1. Saquon Barkley Backwards Hurdle

We have to start with the backward hurdle. Last season, Barkley stole the sports world’s attention when he leaped over a pack of Jaguars and wowed his teammates. The play didn’t result in a touchdown, and it was an ugly game for the Eagles. However, this play motivated the sidelines and made football history. 

Saquon Barkley’s reverse hurdle stuns Eagles fans

2. Saquon Barkley’s Game-Sealing Score

Saquon Barkley and the Eagles won the Super Bowl in February but faced adversity against the Los Angeles Rams. The team led 22-15 in the fourth quarter and tried to milk the clock. However, Barkley put the game away with a massive 78-yard touchdown run. 

Rams vs Eagles | NFC Divisional Round Highlights

3. Saquon Barkley Sets Off Fireworks in the NFC Championship

First impressions go a long way, don’t they? The Eagles gave up a field goal to the Commanders to start the first quarter. However, they didn’t trail for long. Barkley ran for a 60-yard touchdown to give Philadelphia the lead, and it never looked back. 

Saquon Barkley EPIC(Fake Audible) first touch first play 60 yard TD seen close Eagles sideline seats

4. Saquon Barkley Carries The Giants on His Back

He might be most famous for his days as a Philadelphia Eagle, but he used to play for the New York Giants. In his rookie season, Saquon Barkley electrified the fanbase with a long 78-yard run against the Washington Commanders. If you can quiet the rivaling crowd, you’ve done an excellent job. 

Saquon Barkley 78 Yard Touchdown Run | Giants vs. Redskins | NFL

5. Saquon Barkley Takes It to the House Against Ohio State

Saquon Barkley might be most famous for his Giants and Eagles days, but he was a beast in college. Penn State’s game against Ohio State was among the most electric of the season despite the Nittany Lions falling short. Barkley took the opening kickoff for a touchdown and stunned the home crowd. 

Saquon Barkley Returns Opening Kickoff For TD | #2 Penn St. vs. #6 Ohio St. 2017

What Is Saquon Barkley’s Contract Outlook? 

Saquon Barkley has made a lot of money, so using all cash for a nice car is definitely a possibility. In his career, the elite running back has earned $63 million in seven seasons, which is a pretty penny. Running backs have a shorter shelf life, typically getting shorter contracts and less money. However, that hasn’t stopped Saquon. 

The star Eagle signed a $41.2 million contract for two years in Philadelphia. He’ll be locked into the Sirianni system with Jalen Hurts for a few more years, much to the chagrin of NFC East opponents. Barkley will get $36 million guaranteed, whereas the remaining 5.2 million will come from elsewhere. 

How long will Saquon Barkley remain in the NFL? He experienced a significant workload in 2024, which isn’t sustainable for the next few seasons. Running backs typically hit a wall at age 30 and significantly decline, depending on how they maintain their bodies. Barkley takes his fitness regime seriously, so Eagles fans can expect another year or two of sustained success.

Appreciating the Greatness of Saquon Barkley

Your favorite NFL team doesn’t often get generational talents. Unfortunately for Giants fans, New York wasted six years of Saquon Barkley. He’s one of the most talented running backs in league history, and he finally had a legendary season in 2024. Will he continue to compile stats in 2025 and beyond? Reaching the top 10 on the all-time rushing list is a viable goal.