New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley has 519 rushing yards and 497 receiving yards this season. The No. 2 overall pick in April's draft is on pace for 1,038 rushing yards and 994 receiving yards, which is pretty close to 1,000 yards in each category for the season. Only former San Francisco 49ers running back Roger Craig and former St. Louis Rams running back Marshall Faulk have accomplished the feat in a single season.
Faulk is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Craig probably should be. Faulk had his dual 1,000-yard season during his fifth NFL year. Craig did so in his third. Barkley, who has already broken the Giants' franchise record for receptions by a rookie running back, is in his first NFL season.
Barkley may be the Giants' best weapon against the 49ers on Monday night. His 1,016 total yards this season account for 33.2 percent of New York's total offense. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh knows the San Francisco defense has to stop Barkley both as a running back and as a receiver.
"He's dynamic now," Saleh told reporters on Friday afternoon. "For his size, it's very deceptive because it doesn't look like he's moving but the son of a gun, he's moving. He's got tremendous balance. He's got great feet. He's obviously used in the pass game. I think they're pretty much even, rushing to passing yards.
"His actual yards per carry are sitting at I think 4.7, so he's doing a really good job running the ball. He creates holes.
"I don't want to put him in Barry Sanders' world yet (but) he's got a chance. He's got great patience. He finds holes. He makes people miss. Well worth the investment, for sure."
The 49ers defense is allowing an average of 102.8 rushing yards per game, which ranks No. 12 in the NFL.
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