Saquon Barkley is a first-round pick in fantasy drafts, and it wouldn't be terribly surprising if he doesn't come off the field very often this season. The Giants gave Jonathan Stewart a two-year, $6.9 million contract in March, with $3 million guaranteed, but that looked bad at the time and even worse now.
Matt Lombardo of NJ Advance Media has been watching practices, and his early impression of Stewart is somewhat less than positive. "This spring, Stewart looked more like a plodding veteran running back trying to hang on, than a back capable of shouldering a significant workload."
Lombardo thinks it will in fact be second-year back Wayne Gallman winning that No. 2 job; those looking to select the proper handcuff for Barkley might be better off spending a last-round pick on Gallman. Indeed, Stewart has seemed to be in decline for two years now. Among all running backs to rush for at least 500 yards over the last two seasons, few have been less effective (yards per carry) than Stewart.
| YARDS PER CARRY, 2016-2017 (500-PLUS) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Player | Att | Yds | Avg | TD |
| 2017 | Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 120 | 728 | 6.1 | 8 |
| 2016 | Mike Gillislee, Buff. | 101 | 577 | 5.7 | 8 |
| 2016 | Bilal Powell, NYJ | 131 | 722 | 5.5 | 3 |
| 2016 | LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 234 | 1267 | 5.4 | 13 |
| 2016 | Jordan Howard, Chi. | 252 | 1313 | 5.2 | 6 |
| 2016 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 322 | 1631 | 5.1 | 15 |
| 2016 | Mark Ingram, N.O. | 205 | 1043 | 5.1 | 6 |
| 2017 | Dion Lewis, N.E. | 180 | 896 | 5.0 | 6 |
| 2016 | Jay Ajayi, Mia. | 261 | 1272 | 4.9 | 8 |
| 2016 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 261 | 1268 | 4.9 | 7 |
| 2017 | Mark Ingram, N.O. | 230 | 1124 | 4.9 | 12 |
| 2017 | Kareem Hunt, K.C. | 272 | 1327 | 4.9 | 8 |
| 2017 | Kenyan Drake, Mia. | 133 | 644 | 4.8 | 3 |
| 2016 | Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 227 | 1079 | 4.8 | 11 |
| 2016 | Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | 198 | 952 | 4.8 | 7 |
| 2017 | Alfred Morris, Dall. | 115 | 547 | 4.8 | 1 |
| 2017 | Todd Gurley, LAR | 279 | 1305 | 4.7 | 13 |
| 2016 | Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 217 | 988 | 4.6 | 6 |
| 2017 | Alex Collins, Balt. | 212 | 973 | 4.6 | 6 |
| 2017 | LeGarrette Blount, Phil. | 173 | 766 | 4.4 | 2 |
| 2017 | Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 196 | 865 | 4.4 | 7 |
| 2016 | DeMarco Murray, Tenn. | 293 | 1287 | 4.4 | 9 |
| 2016 | Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 118 | 520 | 4.4 | 8 |
| 2017 | Orleans Darkwa, NYG | 171 | 751 | 4.4 | 5 |
| 2017 | Bilal Powell, NYJ | 178 | 772 | 4.3 | 5 |
| 2017 | Marshawn Lynch, Oak. | 207 | 891 | 4.3 | 7 |
| 2016 | Spencer Ware, K.C. | 214 | 921 | 4.3 | 3 |
| 2016 | Ryan Mathews, Phil. | 155 | 661 | 4.3 | 8 |
| 2016 | Jacquizz Rodgers, T.B. | 129 | 560 | 4.3 | 2 |
| 2017 | Derrick Henry, Tenn. | 176 | 744 | 4.2 | 5 |
| 2016 | David Johnson, Ariz. | 293 | 1239 | 4.2 | 16 |
| 2016 | Robert Kelley, Wash. | 168 | 704 | 4.2 | 6 |
| 2017 | Jay Ajayi, 2 tm | 208 | 873 | 4.2 | 1 |
| 2017 | Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | 206 | 853 | 4.1 | 2 |
| 2017 | C.J. Anderson, Den. | 245 | 1007 | 4.1 | 3 |
| 2016 | Tim Hightower, N.O. | 133 | 548 | 4.1 | 4 |
| 2017 | Jordan Howard, Chi. | 276 | 1122 | 4.1 | 9 |
| 2017 | Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 242 | 983 | 4.1 | 7 |
| 2017 | Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 156 | 628 | 4.0 | 5 |
| 2017 | LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 321 | 1291 | 4.0 | 9 |
| 2016 | Lamar Miller, Hou. | 268 | 1073 | 4.0 | 5 |
| 2016 | Latavius Murray, Oak. | 195 | 788 | 4.0 | 12 |
| 2016 | Terrance West, Balt. | 193 | 774 | 4.0 | 5 |
| 2017 | LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 287 | 1138 | 4.0 | 6 |
| 2017 | Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 240 | 938 | 3.9 | 8 |
| 2016 | LeGarrette Blount, N.E. | 299 | 1161 | 3.9 | 18 |
| 2016 | Frank Gore, Ind. | 263 | 1025 | 3.9 | 4 |
| 2016 | Melvin Gordon, S.D. | 254 | 997 | 3.9 | 10 |
| 2016 | Christine Michael, 2TM | 148 | 583 | 3.9 | 7 |
| 2017 | Latavius Murray, Minn. | 216 | 842 | 3.9 | 8 |
| 2017 | Melvin Gordon, LAC | 284 | 1105 | 3.9 | 8 |
| 2017 | Leonard Fournette, Jac. | 268 | 1040 | 3.9 | 9 |
| 2017 | Javorius Allen, Balt. | 153 | 591 | 3.9 | 4 |
| 2016 | Jeremy Hill, Cin. | 222 | 839 | 3.8 | 9 |
| 2016 | Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 218 | 824 | 3.8 | 9 |
| 2017 | Jerick McKinnon, Minn. | 150 | 570 | 3.8 | 3 |
| 2017 | Lamar Miller, Hou. | 238 | 888 | 3.7 | 3 |
| 2016 | Matt Forte, NYJ | 218 | 813 | 3.7 | 7 |
| 2017 | Frank Gore, Ind. | 261 | 961 | 3.7 | 3 |
| 2017 | Jamaal Williams, G.B. | 153 | 556 | 3.6 | 4 |
| 2017 | DeMarco Murray, Tenn. | 184 | 659 | 3.6 | 6 |
| 2017 | Joe Mixon, Cin. | 178 | 626 | 3.5 | 4 |
| 2016 | Devontae Booker, Den. | 174 | 612 | 3.5 | 4 |
| 2017 | Samaje Perine, Wash. | 175 | 603 | 3.4 | 1 |
| 2017 | Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 198 | 680 | 3.4 | 6 |
| 2016 | Jerick McKinnon, Minn. | 159 | 539 | 3.4 | 2 |
| 2017 | Adrian Peterson, 2 tm | 156 | 529 | 3.4 | 2 |
| 2017 | Ameer Abdullah, Det. | 165 | 552 | 3.3 | 4 |
| 2016 | Rashad Jennings, NYG | 181 | 593 | 3.3 | 3 |
| 2016 | Todd Gurley, L.A. | 278 | 885 | 3.2 | 6 |
Yards per carry isn't everything; the guy at the bottom of that table, 2016 Todd Gurley, did OK a year later.
But Stewart is 31 years old and will be working behind what was one of the worst lines in the league a year ago. It should be better this year (certainly at left tackle with Nate Solder) but still probably a below-average group.
With his guaranteed money and veteran presence, Stewart is probably going to make the team. But unlikely to make much of an impact, and not a lock for a significant (even a No. 2) role.
--Andy Richardson