Shannon Sharpe believes Saquon Barkley no longer belongs among the NFL’s top-tier running backs. The former NFL tight end made his position clear during an episode of Nightcap, pointing to Barkley’s declining production since joining the Philadelphia Eagles.
“And we’ve got to take Saquon out of that Tier 1. Saquon hasn’t been Tier 1 in a while, since his first year in Philly,” Sharpe said.
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Barkley delivered a historic 2024 season, rushing for 2,005 yards and earning NFL Offensive Player of the Year honors. However, his production dropped in 2025, and injuries have disrupted his 2026 campaign.
“Look at Saquon the second year. Look at Saquon now. He ain’t in there no more,” Sharpe added. “You don’t get to be there forever.”
The Eagles running back has been ruled out against the Carolina Panthers in Week 6 because of a right hamstring injury. He suffered the injury on his first carry in Week 4 and has missed consecutive games.
Sharpe says Saquon Barkley must prove himself every week
Sharpe argued that past achievements should not guarantee a player’s place among the league’s elite.
“You get to update your résumé on a weekly basis,” he explained. “What you did two years ago? Oh, no, you can see it’s on your résumé.”
He acknowledged Barkley’s accomplishments but stressed that current production should determine rankings.
“We’re not trying to remove that,” Sharpe said. “But we’re not going to allow you to stay in the upper echelon of running backs when your production is down here, and their production is up here.”
There is a reasonable argument behind Sharpe’s assessment, even with Barkley’s injury context. Running back rankings should reflect recent performance, availability, and consistency rather than reputation alone.
However, Philadelphia’s offensive structure and defensive adjustments also matter. Opponents have paid closer attention to Barkley since his record-setting season, while offensive inconsistency has made sustained production harder.
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Barkley still averaged 5.1 yards per carry across four appearances in 2026 before his injury. That efficiency suggests his talent remains, although limited availability affects his overall value.
Sharpe’s criticism puts pressure on Barkley to deliver when healthy. A strong return could soon change the conversation, but his past achievements alone will not settle it.
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