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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 03: 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 November 03, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Saquon Barkley’s debut season in midnight green was more than just spectacular, it was historic.
After joining the Philadelphia Eagles in the splashiest free-agent signing of 2024, Barkley authored one of the greatest campaigns a running back has ever produced. He entered the 2,000-yard rushing club, claimed the AP Offensive Player of the Year Award, set records for rushing and scrimmage yards (regular season + playoffs), and helped deliver Super Bowl LIX glory to Philadelphia.
On the heels of that, Barkley has been voted the No. 1 player in the NFL Top 100 of 2025, a peer-driven ranking that carries unique weight because it reflects the respect of those who line up against him every Sunday.
It marks a staggering leap from last year, when Barkley was slotted at No. 86. It also comes just a week after ESPN placed him only 17th in its annual player rankings behind Jalen Hurts at No. 38. Clearly, the players see Barkley differently.
He’s just the second running back in the Top 100’s 15-year history to claim the No. 1 spot, joining Adrian Peterson (2013).
Barkley’s Case for No. 1
2,504 rushing yards (including playoffs): Surpassing Terrell Davis’ hallowed 1998 mark.
2,857 scrimmage yards: Another NFL record, surpassing Davis again.
11 games with 100+ yards, five with 150+: Pure dominance week after week.
Signature highlight: The reverse leap-frog hurdle now immortalized on the cover of Madden NFL 26.
Playoff rampage: 119, 205, and 118 yards en route to a Lombardi Trophy.
First RB ever to earn $20M+ annually after just one season with a new team.
Last year wasn’t just a great season. It was a redefining of what a modern running back can be in a quarterback-driven league.
The Competition Was Fierce
What makes Barkley’s No. 1 ranking even more impressive is the elite company he rose above. Here’s a look at Nos. 2–10 and their credentials:
2. Lamar Jackson (QB, Ravens)
4,172 passing yards, 41 TDs, 4 INT (career highs).
915 rushing yards, 4 rushing TDs.
First player ever with 4,000+ pass yards and 800+ rush yards in a season.
Former 2x MVP, led Ravens to Super Bowl contention.
3. Josh Allen (QB, Bills)
41 total TDs (28 passing, 12 rushing, 1 receiving).
2024 NFL MVP.
Only player in history with 25+ pass TDs, 10+ rush TDs, and a receiving TD in one season.
Super Bowl-era record: just 14 sacks taken all year.
4. Ja’Marr Chase (WR, Bengals)
Triple Crown winner: led NFL in receptions (127), yards (1,708), and TDs (17).
Set record with 457 yards vs. a single opponent in one season.
Youngest player ever to win the Triple Crown.
Became highest-paid WR in NFL history this offseason.
5. Patrick Mahomes (QB, Chiefs)
15-1 record as starter, third straight Super Bowl appearance.
2-time MVP, 3-time Super Bowl champion.
Led NFL in 4th-quarter comebacks (5) and game-winning drives (7) in 2024.
Still regarded as the game’s ultimate winner.
6. Joe Burrow (QB, Bengals)
4,918 passing yards, 43 TDs, 9 INT.
Third QB in history with 4,500+ yards and 40+ TDs while throwing fewer than 10 INTs (Brady 2007, Rodgers 2011).
2024 Comeback Player of the Year.
Set NFL record with 8 straight games of 250+ yards and 3+ TDs.
7. Derrick Henry (RB, Ravens)
1,921 yards at 5.9 YPC — best season by any RB over age 30 in NFL history.
16 rushing TDs, tied for league lead.
First season with Baltimore created one of the league’s best backfields with Lamar Jackson.
100 forced missed tackles, most in NFL.
8. Myles Garrett (DE, Browns)
14 sacks, 22 TFL (led NFL), 28 QB hits.
100 career sacks before age 29 – fastest to that milestone in NFL history.
4-time All-Pro, DPOY candidate every year.
Regarded as the league’s most unblockable edge rusher.
9. Justin Jefferson (WR, Vikings)
103 catches, 1,533 yards, 10 TDs.
7,432 receiving yards through 5 seasons – most in NFL history.
NFL leader in vertical route yards (649) and deep receptions (47).
Multiple jaw-dropping highlight catches in 2024.
10. Patrick Surtain II (CB, Broncos)
2024 Defensive Player of the Year.
Allowed just 0.6 yards per coverage snap, second-fewest in NFL.
Did not allow 50+ receiving yards in a single game.
Pick-six highlight: 100-yard INT return vs. Raiders.
Why Barkley’s No. 1 Is So Staggering
Look at the names he surpassed:
Two MVP quarterbacks (Jackson, Allen).
The Triple Crown WR (Chase).
The game’s face and a 3-time Super Bowl Champion (Mahomes).
A generational pass rusher (Garrett).
The reigning DPOY (Surtain).
Each had historic seasons or career-defining moments in 2024. Yet Barkley, in his first season with Philadelphia, outshined them all.
His blend of production, explosiveness, and championship impact made him the consensus choice among his NFL brethren. If Adrian Peterson in 2013 proved that a running back could be the best in football, Barkley in 2025 proved it again and may have reset the market for the position entirely.
The Bottom Line
From No. 86 last year, to No. 17 in ESPN’s rankings just last week, to No. 1 among the players today Saquon Barkley has authored one of the most remarkable ascensions in NFL history.
For the Eagles, his signing may go down as the greatest free-agent move ever made. For Barkley, it cements his place as the new face of the league and etches his name in Eagles’ lore.