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Saquon Barkley was supposed to be the focal point of the New York Giants’ offense in this rebuilding season. That’s not going to be the case after he suffered an ankle injury last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that forced him out of the game in the first half. Barkley is now expected to miss anywhere from four to eight weeks with a high-ankle sprain.
Barkley got off to a big start to the season. He rolled up 120 yards in Week 1, and added another 107 a week later. The Giants weren’t much to look at in either of those games, but Barkley did not disappoint fantasy owners who spent an early draft pick to get him or oodles of cash to start him in DFS leagues.
And then, suddenly, this became Daniel Jones’ team last week after Barkley had to be helped off the field. The good news is that he’s not going to need surgery, and will at least return to the field this season, maybe.
Fantasy impact: Get to know Wayne Gallman, Barkley’s backup and the Giants’ lead back now. He had 30 yards on seven carries last week, as well as a touchdown. He’s not going to produce numbers like Barkley, but he can be a decent start in fantasy lineups. When Barkley does return, temper your expectations until you see just how close his ankle is to 100 percent.