Who is Saquon Barkley’s handcuff? It would be nice if you didn’t need to know the answer to this question. However, he has been known to miss time during a season. That means you should be prepared heading into this year.
With that in mind, Saquon Barkley’s handcuff is Matt Breida, a player with injury concerns of his own. The one-time 49er has impressed on occasion since coming into the NFL in 2017. On the other hand, his career has been derailed by a lack of durability. That is highlighted by the fact Breida has never had consecutive games with 15 or more carries and has only totaled two games with 20+ touches in five seasons as a pro.
Things fall off a cliff once you get past Breida. At the moment, the New York Giants have Gary Brightwell as their third string running back. Behind him is rookie Eric Gray who the team selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft.
Related: All you need to know about fantasy football handcuffs
Is Saquon Barkley’s handcuff worth stashing?
Saquon Barkley’s handcuff doesn’t have to be stashed as long as you have waiver priority or a healthy FAAB budget. None of his backups are going to see enough touches to offer any kind of standalone value.
Should Barkley go down, there is some optimism surrounding Breida. Giants Head Coach Brian Daboll worked with him for several seasons now, so perhaps there is reason to think the staff trusts him should his number be called. If history is any indicator, do not expect him to see more than 12 touches per game should he be pressed into action.
There is also a strong possibility that New York signs a veteran back should Barkley miss an extended period of time. The team had James Robinson in training camp and the preseason so he could be an option.
Related: The absolutely crazy football single season interception record
