Saquon Barkley's record-breaking 2024 season - a tale of two halves.
At first glance, it appears that the Eagles' star running back had it all in 2024. He led the NFL in rushing attempts and yards, averaging an astonishing 125.3 yards per game, and amassed an impressive 2,283 yards from scrimmage. Barkley's individual statistics were staggering: a league-best 5.9 yards per carry average, the highest yards-per-touch average (6.1), and a whopping 1,071 total yards through eight weeks.
However, with one crucial exception - a meaningless Week 18 game against the Giants that he rested from - Barkley fell just shy of Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards. Nevertheless, an additional 499 rushing yards in the postseason propelled him to take the top spot as the NFL's all-time leader in combined rushing yards.
It seemed like a unicorn season for an NFL running back, one that would be remembered for generations to come. Yet, just as the fantasy was about to become reality, another challenger emerged - Jonathan Taylor, the Colts' speedy star who is mirroring Barkley's output through eight weeks of the 2025 season.
At first glance, the numbers appear almost identical: 850 rushing yards and 25 receptions for 206 receiving yards. However, there are subtle differences that set Taylor apart. While averaging a nearly identical 125.3 yards per game as Barkley last year, Taylor has an impressive 143 carries through eight games compared to Barkley's 157.
Taylor's pace is even more remarkable when considering the additional categories: he already boasts 12 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns, with an average of 6.3 yards after contact - a feat that surpassed Barkley's 2.0 yards per carry last year.
As it stands now, Taylor is tantalizingly close to matching Barkley's record-breaking season, but can he sustain this momentum throughout the entire 2025 campaign? Staying healthy, as both players have struggled with injuries in their careers, will be crucial for Taylor's continued success. Moreover, while the Colts boast an elite offensive line that has enabled Taylor's yards, the competition in Week 9 - a top-10 rushing defense such as Seattle - could be telling.
One thing is clear: Jonathan Taylor's ascent onto Barkley's throne is well underway, and it will be fascinating to see how this new rivalry unfolds. Will he surpass the Giants star's magical season, or will history repeat itself? Only time will tell.
At first glance, it appears that the Eagles' star running back had it all in 2024. He led the NFL in rushing attempts and yards, averaging an astonishing 125.3 yards per game, and amassed an impressive 2,283 yards from scrimmage. Barkley's individual statistics were staggering: a league-best 5.9 yards per carry average, the highest yards-per-touch average (6.1), and a whopping 1,071 total yards through eight weeks.
However, with one crucial exception - a meaningless Week 18 game against the Giants that he rested from - Barkley fell just shy of Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards. Nevertheless, an additional 499 rushing yards in the postseason propelled him to take the top spot as the NFL's all-time leader in combined rushing yards.
It seemed like a unicorn season for an NFL running back, one that would be remembered for generations to come. Yet, just as the fantasy was about to become reality, another challenger emerged - Jonathan Taylor, the Colts' speedy star who is mirroring Barkley's output through eight weeks of the 2025 season.
At first glance, the numbers appear almost identical: 850 rushing yards and 25 receptions for 206 receiving yards. However, there are subtle differences that set Taylor apart. While averaging a nearly identical 125.3 yards per game as Barkley last year, Taylor has an impressive 143 carries through eight games compared to Barkley's 157.
Taylor's pace is even more remarkable when considering the additional categories: he already boasts 12 rushing touchdowns and two receiving touchdowns, with an average of 6.3 yards after contact - a feat that surpassed Barkley's 2.0 yards per carry last year.
As it stands now, Taylor is tantalizingly close to matching Barkley's record-breaking season, but can he sustain this momentum throughout the entire 2025 campaign? Staying healthy, as both players have struggled with injuries in their careers, will be crucial for Taylor's continued success. Moreover, while the Colts boast an elite offensive line that has enabled Taylor's yards, the competition in Week 9 - a top-10 rushing defense such as Seattle - could be telling.
One thing is clear: Jonathan Taylor's ascent onto Barkley's throne is well underway, and it will be fascinating to see how this new rivalry unfolds. Will he surpass the Giants star's magical season, or will history repeat itself? Only time will tell.
. I mean, sure, Barkley had a monster season, but what's the point of stats if you can't sustain it over 16 games? And now Taylor comes out of nowhere and is already getting so much attention... I'm worried he's gonna get hurt or something. That top-10 rushing defense in Week 9 is looking like a major test for him 
. And let's not forget, injuries are just part of the game. We'll be saying "oh no" when he gets banged up and can't finish the season 
. Still got to watch and see how it all plays out, I guess... 
The NFL running back scene just got a whole lot more interesting! 
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jonathan taylor is literally taking over saquon barkley's throne rn! 850 yards in 8 games is insane!!! 
taylor needs to stay healthy and keep it up tho, bc if he does, hes gonna be in a real shot at taking down saquon's record... but also gotta love how barks didnt rest for that week lol 
but seriously, jonathan taylor is giving saquon barkley a run for his money. at first glance, their stats seem identical, but then you notice the little differences that set taylor apart. like, he's already got 12 rushing touchdowns and 2 receiving touchdowns, while barkley was still struggling to find his groove last season 
This is crazy! One minute Saquon's on top, breakin' records left and right, and the next Jonathan Taylor's catchin' up like nobody's business 
. But here's the thing: consistency is key 
, but will he be able to keep that pace up? The competition in Week 9 could give us a major clue 
Taylor is giving me ALL THE SAQUON GROOVE 
I don't get why ppl are comparing him to Barkley already tho, they're not even playing in the same era! 
he's gonna take over the league this year!!! 
. I mean, those numbers are crazy - 850 yards in eight games? That's like a marathon runner on steroids 
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. He's averaging more carries than Barkley last year and has more rushing touchdowns already! And that 6.3 yards after contact? Whoa, that's just ridiculous 
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. The Colts have a solid O-line, but when they face a top-10 rushing defense like Seattle, it could get ugly 
️. Who knows what will happen in the second half of the season? Will Taylor take down Barkley's record or come up short? We'll just have to wait and see 
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. But let's be real, injury prone QBs are like a constant 'low battery' warning sign 
. Both players need to stay healthy and hungry for those yards if they wanna take down each other 
. And I'm intrigued by how the Colts' O-line is setting Taylor up for success - can he replicate that magic on the road? 
. Additionally, the Colts' elite offensive line has certainly helped him out, but when they face tougher competition like Seattle, it could be a different story 
. One thing's for sure - we're in for an exciting ride as two of the league's top running backs go head-to-head! 
. plus, taylor's injuries are gonna be a major concern - we can't forget how that affected barkley's production last time around 
. Can Taylor sustain his momentum and break Barkley's record? It's gonna be tough, considering their teams' strength in different areas. And let's not forget about injuries - both guys have struggled with them in the past.
. The NFL is always full of surprises, and I wouldn't put it past Taylor to pull off an epic comeback 
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think saquon barkley was on top of his game for 8 weeks and then just stopped doing anything, like, i get it injuries happen, but still not cool 
meanwhile jason taylor comes out of nowhere and starts racking up yards and touchdowns and you're like 'wait, this guy is actually the real deal' 
also, gotta love how both players are on track to potentially break records, it's gonna be super interesting to see who ends up at the top