Saquon Barkley #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles hurdles Jarrian Jones #22 of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second quarter of a game at Lincoln Financial Field on Nov. 03, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Saquon Barkley #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles hurdles Jarrian Jones #22 of the Jacksonville Jaguars in the second quarter of a game at Lincoln Financial Field on Nov. 03, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Kevin Cusick portrait
Kevin Cusick portrait
We’re now at the halfway mark of the fantasy football regular season, and some facts are becoming crystal clear. One of them is that folks who put their faith in Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley are having a rough autumn.
The Eagles’ star is currently dealing with a hamstring injury, but he was underwhelming even when healthy. Barkley entered Monday night’s game against Dallas with only 190 total yards and not a single touchdown. He’s the poster child for an injury-riddled Eagles offense plodding through what looks like a lost season.
He’s not the only NFL standout who has struggled this season. Here are seven others who have not come close to their preseason projections:
Ashton Jeanty (Raiders RB) — It’s now obvious he was overrated after his Heisman Trophy season. The Las Vegas sophomore came into the season as a top-12 back, but he has run for only 564 yards and three TDs.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty warms up before a preseason NFL football game Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Omarion Hampton #8 of the Los Angeles Chargers is tackled during the first quarter against the Washington Commanders at SoFi Stadium on Oct. 05, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Omarion Hampton (Chargers RB) — One of the many culprits in the Chargers’ train wreck, this top 10 RB has only 345 total yards and three TDs while running behind a patchwork offensive line that at one point lined up five rookies.
Omarion Hampton #8 of the Los Angeles Chargers is tackled during the first quarter against the Washington Commanders at SoFi Stadium on Oct. 05, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Omarion Hampton #8 of the Los Angeles Chargers is tackled during the first quarter against the Washington Commanders at SoFi Stadium on Oct. 05, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
Drake London (Falcons WR) — A top 10 wide receiver with a history of making only sporadic trips to the end zone, London found paydirt for the first time Sunday against San Francisco. His other numbers (57 catches for 616 yards) are not dreadful, but they’re not spectacular, either.
Fabian Moreau #23 of the Minnesota Vikings tackles Drake London #5 of the Atlanta Falcons during the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on Dec. 08, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Fabian Moreau #23 of the Minnesota Vikings tackles Drake London #5 of the Atlanta Falcons during the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on Dec. 08, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
George Pickens (Cowboys WR) — The fiction that he is in the same league with star teammate CeeDee Lamb is officially over. The former Steeler has fallen back to earth with only 33 catches for 428 yards and a TD through Dallas’ first six games.
Byron Murphy Jr. grabs George Pickens as a football flies out of Pickens' grasp.
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland (84) catches a pass in front of Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) in the second quarter of an NFL football game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Colston Loveland (Bears TE) — No, he’s not on a par with all-world tight ends Brock Bowers and Trey McBride. He’s Chicago’s biggest offensive disappointment, with only 41 catches for 244 yards and two scores.
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland (84) catches a pass in front of Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) in the second quarter of an NFL football game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland (84) catches a pass in front of Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) in the second quarter of an NFL football game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Justin Herbert (Chargers QB) — Would be nice to see him play with an adequate offensive line, but he hasn’t had that since his Oregon days. Just five TD passes in six games, and less than 200 yards per game for the winless Bolts.
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert throws a pass during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Rams Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Katie Chin)
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert throws a pass during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Los Angeles Rams Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Katie Chin)
Dak Prescott (Cowboys QB) — He hasn’t been the same after all of his injuries took away his running threat. So, he has accounted for only 10 TDs. Those longing for his big breakout game will likely still be waiting after Monday night’s game against Philly.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is sacked by Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jer'zhan Newton (95) during the second half an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) is sacked by Washington Commanders defensive tackle Jer'zhan Newton (95) during the second half an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Sitting stars
Green Bay RB Josh Jacobs didn’t look great dropping the game-winning TD pass in his return from suspension, and we’re guessing he might not be worth starting against Carolina, especially if you have to defend his morals with a straight face. … Baltimore RB Derrick Henry has really slowed down the past three weeks, though you probably have to cross your fingers and start him anyway. … Cincinnati’s Chase Brown hasn’t topped 39 yards since September, so you cannot assume he’ll do much better sharing the load with Samaje Perine against Tennessee. … Jets WR Garrett Wilson was irrelevant in their crushing loss to Miami, and with only 70 yards over the past two games, you can’t have any confidence when he faces Vegas. … Same goes for Detroit TE Sam LaPorta. … Carolina QB Bryce Young looked bad again against Tampa Bay and could struggle Thursday night in Green Bay. … And despite his long TD run in Arizona, we’d stay far away from Denver QB Bo Nix.
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (8) rides a fan's bicycle to the NFL football team's training camp, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) and linebacker Kyle van Noy (17) during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Matchup game
Buccaneers back Bucky Irving is on a hot streak the past few weeks with four TDs, and that could continue against Atlanta. … Denver rookie RB Jonah Coleman is starting to look like a Sean Payton favorite and could find more open spaces against the Chiefs. … Cincy WR Tee Higgins has topped 148 yards in two of his last three games and is a great bet to score against lowly Tennessee. … The NFL’s hottest receiver is the Jets’ Omar Cooper with 218 yards and two TDs the past two weeks. … This is likely your last chance to claim Cleveland rookie K.C. Concepcion after his 129-yard receiving day Sunday. … And we expect a couple of elderly QBs to bounce back this week: Vegas’ Kirk Cousins against the Jets and Arizona’s Jacoby Brissett versus Dallas.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) and linebacker Kyle van Noy (17) during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (7) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) and linebacker Kyle van Noy (17) during the second half of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla., Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)
Injury watch
Locally, the big Week 7 injury was the knee injury aggravated by Aaron Jones near the end of Sunday’s game. Jordan Mason looked pretty good in his return Sunday and will likely be the Vikings’s No. 1 RB option for the next week or two at a minimum. … Cam Skattebo’s resurrection as the Giants’ top RB may have been short-circuited by a hamstring injury on his final carry Sunday in Houston, although that won’t matter in New York’s bye week. … Speaking of byes, the 49ers, Texans and Saints are also sitting in Week 8. … It’s starting to look like we won’t be seeing healthy play from Lamar Jackson for a while, which is bad news for Baltimore as Snoop Huntley is a mediocre substitute.
Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. (33) dives for the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
Vikings running back Aaron Jones Sr. (33) dives for the end zone for the go-ahead touchdown against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of an NFL football game in New Orleans, Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
The deepest sleeper
Desperately need a tight end to replace, say, bye-week-sidelined George Kittle? Say hello to Rams tight end Davis Allen. The fourth-year journeyman, who came into Week 7 with only six receptions on the season, caught two touchdown passes from Matthew Stafford as Los Angeles saved its season Sunday in Las Vegas. The veteran quarterback could find Allen again this week against the dumpster fire that is the Los Angeles Chargers.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 25: Davis Allen #87 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second quarter at Allegiant Stadium on October 25, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 25: Davis Allen #87 of the Los Angeles Rams celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second quarter at Allegiant Stadium on October 25, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
Panthers at Packers (-3½):
Pick: Panthers by 3
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) throws against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) throws against the Cleveland Browns during the second half of an NFL football game in Cleveland, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/David Richard)
Breaking news
We’ll be updating our column, based on the latest injuries and innuendo, right up until Sunday’s kickoff. Go to TwinCities.com/theloop.
You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X— @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.