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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — When the New York Giants (1-5) and Carolina Panthers (3-3) take the field at MetLife Stadium on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, Fox), running backs Saquon Barkley and Christian McCaffrey will be parked on the sidelines. Over the past two seasons it has become an all-too-familiar position for these dynamic playmakers.
Barkley (ankle), the No. 2 overall pick in 2018, will be sidelined for the 16th time in the Giants’ past 21 games. McCaffrey (hamstring), the No. 8 overall pick in 2017, is on injured reserve and will miss his fourth straight contest, the 17th time in Carolina’s past 20 games he hasn’t been available.
Such is life as an NFL running back. It’s a dangerous occupation, one reason it’s such a risky proposition for a team to build its offense around that position.
“My takeaway, I can only speak for us obviously, is I don’t think anybody — you look across the National Football League — is building it around one player,” second-year Panthers coach Matt Rhule said. “I think if you do build around one player it has to be the quarterback. I think for us, having [QB] Sam [Darnold], a young player, having Christian who can take pressure off him both in the run and pass game helps your quarterback play at an elite level.”
The Panthers have Chuba Hubbard filling in for McCaffrey. The Giants are relying on Devontae Booker and fullback Eli Penny. They have all been relatively successful in replacement roles but are not dynamic like McCaffrey and Barkley — especially in the pass game.
Barkley has a 50-plus-yard touchdown reception in three of his four professional seasons. McCaffrey had 1,387 yards rushing and 1,005 yards receiving in 2019, making him one of three players in NFL history with at least 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. When these teams met in 2018, Barkley and McCaffrey combined for 41 touches and three TD receptions, including…
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Source : espn
