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Factoid

Marquee Matchup

Barkley and McCaffrey to square off this week

The Giants host Carolina this week, and while few would think of that as a marquee matchup, in fantasy terms, it is. At least as it applies to the running backs starting for both teams, Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey.

McCaffrey has been in the league the past five seasons, Barkley four. In two of those (2018 and 2019) they were two of the very best running backs (NFL or fantasy). The last two have been injury-marred, and there are still questions about how they'll fare this year. But fortunately this matchup came early in the year; both are healthy now.

Barkley, certainly, was one of the stars of Week 1. Anyone who selected him in the second round (or later?) is feeling great about it right now.

McCaffrey put up more modest numbers, but at least he scored and played 80 percent of the time. A few months from now, maybe we'll be looking at both players as top picks in 2023.

Since McCaffrey entered the league in 2017, he's put up three of the top 52 fantasy seasons (PPR scoring), including the two very best. Barkley, in one fewer season, has two of that group. (Yes I extended it from 50 to 52 to sneak in another McCaffrey year, sorry.)

TOP RUNNING BACK SEASONS (PPR SCORING), 2017-2022
YearPlayerGRunNoRecTDPPRRk
2019Christian McCaffrey, Car.161387116100519471.21
2018Christian McCaffrey, Car.16109810786713388.01
2017Todd Gurley, LAR1513056478819387.31
2018Saquon Barkley, NYG1613079172115385.82
2020Alvin Kamara, N.O.159328375621377.81
2021Jonathan Taylor, Ind.1718114036020377.11
2018Todd Gurley, LAR1412515958021374.13
2018Alvin Kamara, N.O.158838170918354.24
2021Austin Ekeler, LAC169117064720349.82
2017LeVeon Bell, Pitt.1512918565511345.62
2020Dalvin Cook, Min.1415574436117343.82
2020Derrick Henry, Ten.1620271911417337.13
2018Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.151434775679331.15
2017Alvin Kamara, N.O.167288182614322.43
2019Aaron Jones, G.B.1610844947419318.82
2019Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.1613575442014315.73
2019Austin Ekeler, LAC165579299311313.04
2021Najee Harris, Pitt.1712007446710300.73
2019Derrick Henry, Ten.1515401820618300.65
2017Kareem Hunt, K.C.1613275345511297.24
2019Dalvin Cook, Min.1411355351913296.46
2021Joe Mixon, Cin.1612054231416289.94
2017Melvin Gordon, LAC1611055847612288.15
2018James Conner, Pitt.139735549713284.06
2017Mark Ingram, N.O.1611245841612284.06
2018James White, N.E.164258775112276.67
2018Melvin Gordon, LAC128855049014275.58
2020David Montgomery, Chi.1510705443810266.84
2017LeSean McCoy, Buff.161138594488265.67
2019Leonard Fournette, Jac.151152765223261.47
2019Nick Chubb, Cle.161494362788261.28
2020Aaron Jones, G.B.1411044735511258.95
2021James Conner, Ariz.157523737518257.75
2021Leonard Fournette, T.B.148126945410255.66
2020Jonathan Taylor, Ind.1511693629912254.86
2021Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.1710024728712254.17
2020James Robinson, Jac.1410704934410252.47
2019Alvin Kamara, N.O.14797815336250.79
2018David Johnson, Ariz.169405044610250.69
2019Mark Ingram, Balt.1510182624715246.510
2019Saquon Barkley, NYG131003524388244.111
2018Joe Mixon, Cin.141168432969243.410
2019Chris Carson, Sea.151230372669240.612
2018Tarik Cohen, Chi.16444717258240.011
2021Antonio Gibson, Was.1610374229410237.18
2017Carlos Hyde, S.F.16938593508235.88
2020Josh Jacobs, L.V.1510653323812235.38
2021Alvin Kamara, N.O.13898474399234.79
2021Cordarrelle Patterson, Atl.166185254811234.610
2020Ezekiel Elliott, Dall.15979523388233.79
2021Aaron Jones, G.B.157995239110231.011
2017Christian McCaffrey, Car.16435806517230.69

It's a long season, so who knows if they'll put together the kind of years they've proved capable of. But it will be fun to watch them try on Sunday.

--Andy Richardson

Fantasy Index