Saquon vs Zeke: Barkley Favored to Rush for More Yards in Week 1
By Angelo Montilla in NFL Football
Updated: March 26, 2020 at 8:58 am EDTPublished:
- Ezekiel Elliott and Saquon Barkley will open the 2019 season against each other
- Elliott listed as +140 underdog to record more rushing yards in Week 1
- Cowboys star led all running backs with 1,434 rushing yards in 2018
Becoming the NFL’s highest-paid running back was a high priority for Ezekiel Elliott.
Why?
“Because I believe I’m the best,” Elliott told reporters after signing a six-year, $90-million extension with the Dallas Cowboys.
Many would argue, however, that rising star Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants should be considered the best running back heading into the opening week of action, when Elliott’s Cowboys will host Barkley’s Giants (Sunday, Sep. 8, 4:25 PM ET).
A prop bet on which player will have more rushing yards when they clash has been set, with Barkley coming in as the -180 favorite.
Saquon vs. Zeke: Who Will Rush For More Yards In Week 1?
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Saquon Barkley | -180 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | +140 |
Odds taken 09/05/2019.
Based on head-to-head numbers between Barkley and Elliott, things look very similar . The Cowboys and Giants clashed twice last season, with Elliott averaging 78 rushing yards per game compared to Barkley’s 68.5.
A Look At Week 1 Averages
Elliott has a couple more career Week 1 games under his belt and has put up an average of 74.7 over a three-year span in opening contests.
In last season’s Week 1 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, Elliott had 15 carries for 69 yards. It wasn’t until Week 3 that Zeke exploded for 127 yards. It marked the first of five times in 2018 that Elliott had 120 or more rushing yards.
Elliott finished 2018 with a league leading 1,434 yards — 127 more than Barkley, who finished second.
Will the roles be reversed in 2019?
Barkley vs. Elliott Average Rushing Yards
| Player | Avg Rushing Yards Per Game (2018) | Avg Rushing Yards in Week 1 (2016-18) | Avg Rushing Yards H2H Matchups (2018) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saquon Barkley | 81.7 | 106 | 68.5 |
| Ezekiel Elliott | 95.6 | 74.7 | 78 |
Barkley is entering his second season in the NFL and is expected to be Elliott’s biggest threat for a rushing title.
To do that, Barkley will have to up his yards-per-game average compared to last season, when he finished at 81.7 compared to Elliott’s 95.6.
Barkley capped off a remarkable rookie campaign with 11 touchdowns on 261 rushing attempts. On a Giants team lacking throwing options in its passing game, expect Barkley’s workload to increase significantly in 2019 and beyond.
Zeke Stronger On Home Field
There are aspects of the Week 1 matchup working in Zeke’s favor, including playing on home field.
Elliott rushed for 791 yards on 178 carries while playing at AT&T Stadium. Elliott also had more fumbles (4) on the road while rushing for just 643 yards.
.@saquon says his spin cycle against the Cowboys is one of his favorite evaded tackles of his career 🌀 (via @NFL) pic.twitter.com/rUpGyNgDrj
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 28, 2019
Barkley, by comparison, was less effective on the road — though not by much; he recorded 582 yards on 125 carries away from MetLife Stadium last season, meaning he put up 725 of his yards in home games.
The Giants had one of the weaker defenses against the rush in 2018, allowing 1,898 yards on the ground and 118.6 per game against opposing running backs. This will be something Elliott will take full advantage of this weekend.
The +140 line on Elliott is too good to pass up on given all the factors at play.
Pick: Ezekiel Elliott (+140)
Sports Writer
Angelo Montilla is a writer, visual design instructor and graphic designer based on the East Coast. As a journalism graduate, his experience in the media industry spans more than 15 years and includes work with Nation Network, SportsBreak, Featurd, Hockey Writers and the Windsor Star.
