Running back rankings: How big is the drop-off from Saquon Barkley to Devin Singletary?

If you go by the Pro Football Focus running back rankings, the New York Giants lost a lot of ground by letting Saquon Barkley leave in free agency and replacing him with Devin Singletary.

Here is how PFF ranks the two among NFL starting running backs:

6. SAQUON BARKLEY, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

After five years with the New York Giants, Saquon Barkley will be toting the rock behind a vaunted Eagles offensive line and hoping for more efficiency. Barkley is still one of the most talented running backs in the NFL but averaged just 3.9 yards per carry in 2023, despite rushing for 962 yards in 14 games.

His 70.2 grade in 2023 was down from his 77.1 grade in 2022, but Barkley still posted solid numbers and his 719 yards after contact ranked ninth. If he’s healthy, Barkley could explode in 2024.

30. DEVIN SINGLETARY, NEW YORK GIANTS

Singletary was intended to be the backup for Dameon Pierce, but a fine run of performances, as well as disappointing ones from Pierce, saw the former Bills running back jump up the depth chart and not look back. Singletary carried the ball a career-high 216 times for 898 yards and four touchdowns while earning a 70.8 grade.

His 23 explosive runs tied for 13th in the NFL, and he was top 20 in yards after contact, too. ultimately will be the starting running back for the Giants in 2024.

Is there really, though, that big a disparity between Barkley and Singletary? And, can the Giants get the production they need from their running backs in Year 1 AB (After Barkley)?

Singletary, 26, is not the bellcow the 27-year-old Barkley can be. Singletary’s 216 carries and 246 overall touches last season were career-highs. Barkley has topped that number four times, and has twice had 352 total touches.

The Giants will need more of a committee than they had with Barkley. Which will lead to opportunities this summer for Eric Gray, Gary Brightwell, fifth-round pick Tyrone Tracy Jr. and undrafted rookie Dante Miller.

Singletary has missed two games over the past four seasons. Barkley has missed 23.

Singletary has a 48.8% success rate on his rushing attempts, including 47.7% last season with the Houston Texans. Barkley has a 42.5% success rate, including just 40.1% last season. Granted, the blocking in front of him was an issue for Barkley.

Still, Barkley’s best year in terms of success rate (47.7%) in 2022 does not equal Singletary’s career mark. So, while Singletary may not give the Giants the home run-hitting ability of Barkley, an argument can be made that he may give them more consistency.

Singletary has never had a 1,000-yard rushing season, while Barkley has had three. Still, Singletary has been above 800 yards rushing with fewer carries than Barkley in each of the past three seasons.

Singletary is also a receiving threat, with at least 30 receptions in four straight seasons. He isn’t Barkley, who has never had fewer than 41 catches in a full season, but he can be a receiver.

The fact that the Giants are paying Singletary just $16.5 million ($9.5 million) guaranteed over three seasons, while the Philadelphia Eagles are paying Barkley $37.75 with $26 million guaranteed over that time is also a factor, though perhaps not one that figured into the PFF ranking.

Singletary is a good, durable player. He isn’t Barkley, but he should help give the Giants a productive running game. I’m not sure where I would rank him, but I don’t believe the drop off is as big as PFF’s rankings make it look.