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Peyton Manning’s former center, Jeff Saturday, just tossed a wild curveball into the MVP chat — he’s backing Saquon Barkley. But here’s the twist: it’s not just about the yardage.
Saturday’s hot take will have you scratching your head. Should the MVP go to a guy whose not the quarterback of an elite offense? Sure, Barkley’s been wrecking defenses, but does he have the story to seal the deal?
Jeff Saturday’s MVP Take: Saquon Barkley Should Win If He Breaks Record
Manning’s former center argued that Barkley should take home the MVP if he breaks the legendary rushing record held by Eric Dickerson.
“I’ll say this — if Saquon Barkley breaks the record, Saquon Barkley should win it. Bottom line: He breaks the record, I don’t care how good [Lamar Jackson] is playing or how good Josh Allen’s playing. If he breaks the record that’s held by Eric Dickerson, we gotta have that happen. He’s gotta be the MVP,” Saturday boldly declared.
“If Saquon Barkley breaks the record, Saquon Barkley should win [the MVP].”
—@SaturdayJeff on where he stands on the current NFL MVP race pic.twitter.com/6BJJjLjLBg
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) December 24, 2024
Now, let’s break that down. First off, that’s a massive statement. Barkley has already racked up 1,838 rushing yards this season, and with the record right within his grasp, Saturday’s backing him as the game-changer in this MVP debate.
Saquon’s bulldozing defenders, yes — but Jackson and Allen are still making waves.
The million-dollar question: Will Barkley’s record-breaking push derail their MVP hopes or just add another chapter to their campaigns? Oh, and by the way, Aaron Rodgers already crowned Allen as his MVP frontrunner.
Barkley’s Record Chase Could Upset Allen’s MVP Lead
If the NFL season wrapped up today, Allen would be your MVP based on Vegas’ odds. But hold up, things aren’t set in stone just yet, thanks to one massive plot twist: Barkley’s record-chasing run.
With Allen sitting pretty at -550, Jackson at +370, and Barkley trailing at +1200, according to DraftKings, it’s still anyone’s game. Even with Allen dominating, Rodgers dropped a bombshell on “The Pat McAfee Show,” throwing some serious shade at the idea that the MVP race is over.
“I think he’s [Allen] the frontrunner for the MVP. Now, that being said, there’s one little wrinkle that could throw a wrench in that, and that is Saquon,” Rodgers said.
“If Saquon goes absolutely nuts the last two weeks … Lamar is going to keep doing what he’s doing, but I think as much as Josh deserves to win it, it might just be his turn. If Saquon goes off and gets over 2,000 yards, and breaks Dickerson’s record, that could throw his hat in the ring as well,” he added.
With over 1,800 rushing yards already, Barkley is eyeing that 2,000-yard mark — and if he breaks Dickerson’s legendary record, the MVP race could get a major shake-up.
The MVP race is still wide open, and with Barkley pushing for history, the spotlight may be shifting. This one’s far from over.
