5 bold predictions for New York Giants in 2021

3. Saquon Barkley won’t get 200 carries

Barkley’s return to the field in 2021 is clearly going to be a massive boost to the Giants’ offense. Fans shouldn’t expect him to come in and soak up a career-high in carries though. Instead, look for New York to carefully manage their star running back’s workload over the course of a full 17-game slate.

That’s why Barkley isn’t going to cross the 200 carry plateau for the third time. It’s very likely that the Giants will look for a running back in the draft who can take some carries away from him in 2021 and beyond. A healthy Barkley is a requirement for New York if they want to challenge for a playoff berth.

None of this means Barkley won’t be a big part of the Giants’ offensive plans. If anything, he might be deployed as a pass-catcher more often than ever before. It’s simply a prediction based on Judge and his coaching staff trying to limit the times Barkley’s required to plunge into the line on interior runs.

In some ways, this is an optimistic prediction for the Giants. Avoiding the temptation to saddle Barkley with 250+ carries is the prudent course of action for the team. Fans in New York should hope this prediction comes true.