NFL Mock Draft 2018: Complete first round after Week 10
Pick Analysis. RB. Saquon Barkley. 42. Scouting Report. Penn State. 2. player
Why is Saquon Barkley so high if he hasn’t had a breakout game in recent weeks against some of the best defenses in the Big Ten? It’s because of his skill set. Barkley is considered the best athlete in college football and also the top running back.
Being an athlete doesn’t exactly make you a good football player, but for Barkley, it definitely helps. He’s strong, fast, smart, has great vision and great burst through holes. He’s also deceptively shifty for a 5-foot-11, 230-pound back.
While the 49ers have Carlos Hyde, he isn’t a game-changer like Barkley. Hyde is a strong runner who could be a third-down or goal line type of back if Barkley were to come to town, or the two could split carries. Either way, that San Francisco offense needs a major pick-me-up in the form of an elite weapon.
Moreover, Barkley is much more of a receiving back than Hyde. He could become one of the NFL’s top receiving running backs. On the season, he has 864 yards and nine rushing touchdowns to go along with 504 receiving yards and three more scores. Jimmy Garoppolo would love to have this weapon out of the backfield.