Zeke vs Barkley: Which is best RB in NFL?

[G2]

Facts are facts.

I mean, I guess you can change the definition.

 

[starfan1]

If Barkley played behind this line there wouldn’t even be a question

 

[OmerV]

not stirring up anything. It's a fact.

lol - yep, you don't have opinions, whatever you think is "fact".

 

[32BellyOption]

I had the second pick in my fantasy draft and could have had Zeke but took Barkley for three reasons. One Zeke hadn’t signed his contract yet and I didn’t know when he would. Second, I’m afraid Zeke might tweak a muscle or something after holding out all training camp and he also gets off to a slow start anyways. And lastly, the Cowboys have other weapons and the Giants don’t have squat. That being said as far as pure RB’s go Zeke is the best hands down!

 

[davey999]

I would rather have Barkley. Zero off field issues. Don't have to worry about him all the time.

 

[TwentyOne]

Zeke Elliott vs Saquon Barkley NYG- who is the best RB in NFL ?

I admit that I go back and forth with this question and I can see why there’s always a comparison between the two.
Both RBs have great run instincts, extremely athletic (hurdling tacklers) have been extremely productive and possess dangerous breakaway ability.
Both players have receiving ability that’s been under-utilized with their respective teams, imo. But if used properly can be very dangerous.

- Zeke is a one cut runner who seems more powerful between the tackles, and gets more yardage after contact. I’ve heard testimonies from opposing players say that Zeke tends to wear you
down with his power and relentless, ..drive while you still have to always be on alert of his ability to break a play open - whether its' a run play or that patented screen pass
Plus Zeke is a better blitz blocker than Barkley.

- Barkley is probably the most explosive breakaway back in the entire NFL – I think he is more elusive than Zeke, harder to bring down in the open field, (tacklers just slide off his legs like butter)
And he has an edge in that special extra gear to hit the home TD run sprint – even more than zeke.

So what are your thoughts when comparing the two RBs ?

Its hard to judge barkley after just one season in the NFL. Usually it takes 1 year and an offseason for DCs to really adjust and scheme for a player. So from that kind of view id rather see if barkley can continue to be the player he showed us in 2018.

But then barkley plays with much lesser talent around him. So from just his talent level and what he did in his first year it aint no competition to me. Barkley is on another level.

I would put him in a league with Gurley. Both are generational backs.

 

[quickccc]

I look at them exactly in the same way I did in the Emmitt-Barry Sanders debate. Sanders would wow you more than Emmitt. He was a “prettier” runner. He would break more long, ankle-breaking runs. Emmitt was much more consistent and more dependable. He got the yards when you absolutely needed it. He put the team on his back at times. He ended games. If you’re down 4 with 50 seconds to go on the 4 yard line in the Super Bowl, who do you want to give the ball to? The answer is clearly Emmitt. Emmitt was the better, more complete back. Zeke is Emmitt and Barkley is Sanders. Thus endeth the lesson.

you bring up some very good points, – but in all fairness, Sanders did not have the awesome support cast around him with the Lions, ..as Emmitt smith did in Dallas.

Not only did we have All pro or pro bowlers all across the entire OL, but we also had a Hall of famer who is considered by many as the best OG that ever played, and
another that would have been a sure fire HOFer , If not for the tragic car accident in Erik Williams who manhandled other HOFers such as Reggie White and Strahan.

- Frankly we had the very best OL in the history of the NFL, if anyone can think of one better, please do tell.
And that speaks a huge volume.

If you ever saw the NFL documentary “Great Wall of Dallas “ , we’d see how monstrous holes that were opened up for Emmitt , while Sanders continued playing behind average (at best)
during his entire career, yet continued his pace that would have placed him as the all time leading rusher, IF he had not suddenly and shockingly retired in the prime of his career.
(which I still think he was just sick of losing and Lions were not going to trade him) .. To me, that also speaks a huge volume.

- the flip side of it is what the Emmitt's and Zeke's do to help their teams, .without them having to have the ball. and that's blitz- blocking. (which barry was very average to mediocre at that)
and many plays were/are made ,..and avoided because of that dirty work element at hand.
and I haven't seen enough of Barkley's blocking yet to judge his own blocking skills.

- Also I believe the Lions actually replaced Sanders with a bigger back around goal line and short yardage situations.
whether that was a matter of poor coaching decisions or a testament that tough, short yrd situations just wasn't Sander's suit, I still dunno.

- While I’m seeing Emmitt/Zeke and Sanders/Barkley comparisons, Emmitt has never had zeke’s breakaway home run hit ability. That brings a lot more element to your offense and that much
more fear factor to defenses. And because zeke has more of a speed element to his game, he can be more of a threat in pass game than Emmitt's dumpoff-safty passes ever was, (just a matter of better coaching to succeed with zeke)

I can see why the Barkley/Sanders comparisons - as facing and dealing with Saquon is just as defenses had to face with Sanders, 2 yds, here ..4 yds there , minus -1, ..and then 3 yds .. and then boom a 64 yard TD sprint, .. he puts that much pressure on you to have to maintain gap lanes, discipline and gang tackle him to which you cannot let up on any given play …

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

Dallas has the better offensive line, that’s the answer

 

[JReed1000]

Last season Saquon had 28 running plays vs Dallas. 24 of those runs totaled 24 yards. The other 4 runs got 113 yards. Look I think he is Barry Sanders reincarnated...BUT Zeke is Emmitt...I I LOVE me some Emmitt.

 

[khiladi]

slight edge to Barkley since he has around the same production as Zeke and is hamstrung with a trash QB

The Giants saw way more sort zone cover 2 than Zeke. Defenses still respect Eli’s arm more than Dak.

Barkley’s reception number in part are dictated by the fact Eli was basically dumping the ball as a check-down to him.

 

[DFWJC]

Impossible debate.
Purely based on biases and personal opinions

 

[Tussinman]

If Barkley played behind this line there wouldn’t even be a question

Exactly.

Barkley played last year on a below average line and had 6 more touchdowns than Zeke, higher yards per carry, and virtually the same exact yards from scrimmage.

Giants are getting there starting center back this year + Will Hernandez looks improved going into year 2 so there O-line might be slightly above average this year and Barkley could easily have another all-pro caliber year

 

[BourbonBalz]

Dallas has the better offensive line, that’s the answer

So, you’re saying Jerry Rice shouldn’t be considered the best WR to ever play the game because he played on stacked San Fran teams and had HOFers Montana and Young throw the ball to him? That’s the logic some of you use against Emmitt, so I guess in your minds Rice isn’t the GOAT of receivers.

 

[Aerolithe_Lion]

So, you’re saying Jerry Rice shouldn’t be considered the best WR to ever play the game because he played on stacked San Fran teams and had HOFers Montana and Young throw the ball to him? That’s the logic some of you use against Emmitt, so I guess in your minds Rice isn’t the GOAT of receivers.

Basing it only on any 1 or 3 year window of their careers like how long Zeke/Saquon has played, you couldn't possibly call Rice or Emmitt the best ever. But no one does that, so I don't see the revancy of your point.

 

[shabazz]

Impossible debate.
Purely based on biases and personal opinions

Ok, then whos got the better hair?

 

[Cowboysheelsreds053]

Last season Saquon had 28 running plays vs Dallas. 24 of those runs totaled 24 yards. The other 4 runs got 113 yards. Look I think he is Barry Sanders reincarnated...BUT Zeke is Emmitt...I I LOVE me some Emmitt.

BAM! Some love the pretty juke moves like Barry but give me Emmitt. The only dancing I want to see your --- do is in the end Zone, because on the 3rd and 1 to seal the game could cost us, just slam that thing up in there to win the game. That is where ES and Zeke are alike.

 

[BigD_95]

Best is a bit subjective, right? My opinion, one may be "better" at duties such as ypc, yards after contact, tds etc..but I've also read that one is the best in the business at pass protection/blitz pickup.

That would be my pick for the ever so slight edge. Then again, as previously mentioned by @Lutonio ..off the field behavior could also be brought into the mix

I do not even think this is a conversation. Zeke is the better running back because he proved he is. Maybe Barkley will be at some point but dont you have to prove it first? How about he has a 1 better year than Zeke first than we compare them because at this time its an insult to Zeke to compare Barkley to him.

Not to mention Barkley is a 1 hit wonder. Guy runs the ball 17 times and has 35 yards then breaks one long run that make his numbers look good. He did the same thing in college against the good teams like OSU. I rather have a consistent RB.

 

[aria]

If Barkley played behind this line there wouldn’t even be a question

Zeke lovers will never bring that up.

 

[Section446]

Give me either one. I'll go with Zeke because he's done it a couple years longer, but I wouldn't sad to have either.

 

[aria]

I do not even think this is a conversation. Zeke is the better running back because he proved he is. Maybe Barkley will be at some point but dont you have to prove it first? How about he has a 1 better year than Zeke first than we compare them because at this time its an insult to Zeke to compare Barkley to him.

Not to mention Barkley is a 1 hit wonder. Guy runs the ball 17 times and has 35 yards then breaks one long run that make his numbers look good. He did the same thing in college against the good teams like OSU. I rather have a consistent RB.

Lol. Seriously?

Who had more yards after contact?

Who had more fumbles? One had zero the other had 6.

Who had more broken tackles?

Who had the better O line by a wide margin?

Who had more receiving yards?

I could go on and on. The only thing Zeke has over Barkley is total rushing yards and that’s because he carried the ball more than Barkley and the fact that Dallas had a much better O line but is NEVER mentioned is mind blowing.