Who does Eagles' Saquon Barkley think is NFL's most talented RB?

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is a huge fan of a third-year NFC South star.

When Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson was ranked No. 62 on NFL Network's "The Top 100 Players of 2025," Barkley said, "There's nobody who can cut in the NFL like Bijan."

He was even more effusive in his praise for the 23-year-old in a story published by Sports Illustrated's Greg Bishop on Thursday.

"I'm super confident in myself. And I'm the best in the NFL," the 2024 Offensive Player of the Year said, per Bishop. "Do I think I'm the most talented one right now? I don't. Bijan [Robinson] is the most talented. Puts it all together."

Robinson is part of a new wave of RBs who, along with Barkley, seem to be helping the position regain its relevance in a pass-happy league. This group also includes Detroit Lions third-year RB Jahmyr Gibbs.

Like Barkley, Robinson is an all-purpose back. In his first two seasons with the Falcons, the eighth pick of the 2023 NFL Draft recorded 3,350 yards (2,432 rushing, 918 receiving) and 23 touchdowns (18 rushing, five receiving). 

One of the few things the 2024 Pro Bowler hasn't done consistently is generate long runs. His longest of his career thus far is a 38-yarder in a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 2023 season. Barkley, meanwhile, failed to break a run of 40-plus yards just twice in his first seven seasons with the Eagles and New York Giants. 

Robinson has aimed to emulate that part of Barkley's game throughout the offseason.  

"We all want it. We're all waiting for that Saquon type of season when it comes to explosives," Robinson told Will McFadden of the team website in a story published June 3. "But I've been working on it a lot this offseason. And obviously, when it gets to the season, it's time to go show it and go do the work the right way." 

Robinson said he ran 100-yard sprints throughout the offseason to improve his speed. If that strategy works, he should rattle off some Barkley-like runs in 2025. That could certainly make the Super Bowl champion enjoy watching him even more.