Giglio: Skeptical Saquon Barkley will be huge difference maker in win column for Eagles

Will new Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley be a huge difference maker when it comes to wins and losses? Joe Giglio isn't so sure.

"I don't know if he's a true difference maker for wins and losses this year and moving forward," Giglio said on Friday's 94WIP Midday Show. "He's a good player, but he's a running back. Most of the time running backs don't make that much of a difference between wins and losses, that's why they're interchangeable. Teams don't usually give them big contracts...This is still a passing offense and he's a running back.

"Do I expect Saquon to have good numbers? Absolutely. But do I think it's going to make a huge difference in wins and losses? Right now I don't."

Barkley, 27, has rushed for 1,000 or more yards in three seasons and 1,300-plus in two seasons. He has caught 91, 52, 41, 57, and 41 balls respectively in five NFL seasons, subtracting his 2020 season where he tore his ACL in Week 2.

If you average the projections from DraftSharks, Rotowire, and ESPN's Mike Clay, Barkley is projected for (via FanDuel.com ):

—270.2 carries
—1,176.0 rushing yards
—8.7 rushing touchdowns
—45.6 catches
—334.2 receiving yards
—3.8 receiving touchdowns

But to Giglio's point, will a good—or even great—statistical season from Barkley equate to a good—or great—season for the Eagles?

D'Andre Swift rushed for 1,049 yards and five touchdowns and caught 39 balls for 214 yards and another score for Philadelphia in 2023.

In 2022, Miles Sanders rushed for 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns, but caught just 20 balls for 78 yards for the Birds in a season that ended in a Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs.