Fantasy Football: Top 5 rookie breakout candidates

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ARLINGTON, TX – APRIL 26: Saquon Barkley poses for photos and holds a New York Giants Jersey as the second overall pick by the New York Giants in the first round at the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Statium on April 26, 2018 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington Texas. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Saquon Barkley, RB, Giants

This was a no-brainer unless you’ve lived under a rock for the last year. Barkley made the offense at Penn State hum and march with authority. This dude is such an athletic freak, his tree-trunk legs make even grown men quake with fear.

Barkley put together two consecutive campaigns with 18 rushing touchdowns and in 2017 had eight receiving as well as two return touchdowns. There have been worries about how well his game will translate to the professional level, but based on how hard he runs, and how well he catches the ball out of the backfield, he could very well become the next David Johnson.

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Eli Manning isn’t getting any younger and can only throw the ball so far with his depleting arm strength, so in PPR leagues Barkley will be a goldmine for people who take him early on in drafts. He can be a clear RB1 or RB2 depending on your draft, but he will be a surefire hit once he hits the field for Big Blue.

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