(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Saquon Barkley’s return from a torn ACL appears to be set for Sunday afternoon against the Denver Broncos.
According to multiple reports, the former first rounder has been medically cleared to return.
The Giants are 3-point home underdogs at FanDuel. The listed total of 41.5 is the lowest on the board for Week 1.
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Barkley suffered a season-ending knee injury during the second game last year. He finished the abbreviated campaign with just 34 yards on 19 carries without a touchdown.
From a fantasy football perspective, Barkley enters Sunday as the 16th-ranked running back for Week 1 according to The Action Network’s composite rankings for standard scoring leagues. He’s RB9 in the overall season rankings.
The former No. 2 overall pick kicked off his career with back-to-back 1,000+ yard seasons on the ground. Overall, Barkley’s logged 23 total touchdowns over his first 31 career games.
Should Barkley be eased back into things or sidelined again, the Giants would turn to Devontae Booker. Booker performed well last season, averaging 4.5 yards per carry with 423 yards and three scores.
In addition to Barkley’s ‘questionable’ injury designation, the Giants will be without tight end Evan Engram. Cornerback Adoree Jackson is listed as questionable with an ankle injury. He was limited in practice this week.
The Giants are +430 to win the NFC East at FanDuel, behind only the Eagles (+450).
New York’s only cashed its regular-season win total once over the last decade, putting together a 1-7-2 clip since 2011.
It’s also been a buzzkill for bettors at MetLife Stadium, going 6-17-1 the last 24 home games and 4-14 the last 18 as a home underdog.
