Is Saquon Barkley poised for a drop-off in his second season with the Philadelphia Eagles?
History, and one particular analyst, believes that to be the case.
Barkley is coming off one of the greatest seasons for a running back ever. He set a new league record for rushing yards in a single season, including the postseason, and won the award for the offensive player of the year. He was a key catalyst to the Eagles winning Super Bowl LIX.
After that historic season, though, one analyst believes Barkley is set up for failure in 2025, especially in fantasy.
Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport thinks Barkley is "doomed" for fantasy football next season. He is the top running back and expected player in most drafts, and that is cause for major concern.
"Saquon Barkley had a fantastic 2024 season," Davenport said. "However, he's doomed in 2025 for numerous reasons.
"Barkley had 378 touches a season ago, putting him squarely in the crosshairs of the 'Curse of 370.' Since 2007, there have been 25 instances where a running back surpassed 370 touches in a season. Of that group, only two gained more total yardage the following year."
Davenport is not the only person who has seen the warning signs that Barkley could be in trouble. Each runner that has recorded over 2,000 yards in a season saw a significant decrease in efficiency the following year. The same goes for running backs who were also named offensive player of the year or are the top overall players in fantasy.
There seems to be a "curse" that follows running backs who have historic seasons like Barkley enjoyed last year.
While Philadelphia does have several factors that should help the All-Pro's case (an elite offensive line and other stars in the passing game), it's fair to wonder if Barkley can ever reach his elite mark again.
Fans are left wondering about the validity of all of this, but …
It's hard to overlook Davenport's clear message about Barkley's potentially "doomed" future.