There’s little debate across NY sports betting that the running back position has gotten more and more devalued as the NFL evolves into a pass-heavy league.
Stuck in the middle of that evolution are generational backfield talents like Saquon Barkley of the New York Giants and up-and-coming backfield artists like Tony Pollard of the Dallas Cowboys and Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders.
All three have been locked down by their current clubs via the NFL’s franchise tag system, which ensures that the trio will be paid $10.1 million apiece this season.
The question is whether backs like Barkley can command long-term deals like they did in the past, or if NFL general managers are keen on making sure that they avoid committing to backfield players long-term.
To get a sense for the value that top backs in the league bring their teams, EmpireStakes.com, your home for NY sportsbook promos, utilized OverTheCap.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com to determine how much success teams with the highest paid running backs in 2022 had.
Top RB Salaries and Team Success
How NFL Teams That Splurged On RBs Have Fared Of Late
Of the last 10 teams that spent the most on a given running back, five made the playoffs the following season but zero won a Super Bowl the next year.
That list includes the Giants and Barkley, who landed a $7.945M to return to the Meadowlands in 2022, only for New York to go 9-7-1 and get knocked out in the NFC Divisional Round, though it wasn't a massive upset on NY betting apps.
Now Barkley, who has earned $48.692M in his career, will tack on roughly $10.1M this fall to return to the “G-Men,” though the former first round pick could potentially sit out the season if his contract demands aren’t met.
Based on the success (or lack thereof) of previous teams that spent big bucks on their backfield ball-carriers, it’s not without merit for the Giants’ front office to buck at the thought of committing to a 26-year-old back that’s carried the ball 954 times in 60 games.
Looking ahead, Barkley comes in No. 6 (+1600) at BetRivers NY to win the NFL rushing title this season.
For now, it’s up to Barkley and the Giants’ front office staff to “put up or shut up” when it comes to their contract stalemate, with fans of the franchise looking forward to a day when they can focus on what’s happening between the lines instead of the tabloids.
