Fansided

The top 25 NFL players under the age of 25

By Russell S. Baxter

KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 20: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs grimaces after being hit during the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 20: Quarterback Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs grimaces after being hit during the AFC Championship Game against the New England Patriots at Arrowhead Stadium on January 20, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images) /
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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 30: New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs during the first quarter of the National Football League game between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys on December 30, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – DECEMBER 30: New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley (26) runs during the first quarter of the National Football League game between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys on December 30, 2018 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. RB Saquon Barkley, New York Giants

One year before New York Giants’ general manager Dave Gettleman made the controversial decision to select Duke University quarterback Daniel Jones with the sixth overall pick, the well-traveled team executive received his share of criticism for using the second selection in the 2018 NFL Draft on a running back.

Yes, Penn State University standout Saquon Barkely appeared to have the goods and was arguably the best player in last year’s draft. But would Gettleman be wise to use that high of a selection on this supposedly-disposable position?

When it was all said and done this past season, Barkley proved to be the goods and then some. He finished second in the league with 1,307 yards on the ground and scored 11 touchdowns. The 22-year-old performer led Big Blue with 91 catches, good for 721 yards and four more scores. The former Nittany Lion standout was the NFL leader in total yards from scrimmage and totaled 15 of the Giants’ 36 offensive TDs. And all of this production earned him the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

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All told, Dallas Cowboys’ running back Ezekiel Elliott (381) amassed more touches from scrimmage this past season than Barkley (352). So why isn’t the two-time NFL rushing leader ahead of his NFC East rival on this list? The sense is that the Giants’ young star may be just scratching the surface when it comes to his complete game.

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