Can New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley overcome the shortcomings of his supporting cast to deliver for his fantasy football managers when they need it most?

He has been hit-and-miss of late, but can he be a trustworthy start in Week 14 against the Green Bay Packers?

Should You Start Saquon Barkley in Week 14?

The Packers have won a pair of one-possession games over the past two weeks against teams with their sights on a deep playoff run (Detroit and Kansas City). While the results have been there, the ability to stop the run hasn’t. Per the Week 14 Cheat Sheet:

• Week 11 vs. David Montgomery: 15 carries for 71 yards, TD (RB13 finish)
• Week 12 vs. Isiah Pacheco: 18 carries for 110 yards, TD (RB7 finish)

MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor

While the matchup doesn’t scare me in a major way, the ineptitude of this Giants offense is plenty capable of submarining their star. Barkley hasn’t been handed the ball 15 times in three straight games, and after catching six balls against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2, Barkley hasn’t seen six targets in a game since.

His role in the passing game in seasons past has been a floor elevator, but that hasn’t been the case this season (no more than six receiving yards in every other game since returning from injury in Week 6).

I don’t think Barkley gets to the top-15 level that Montgomery and Pacheco did in losing efforts against these Packers, but his raw talent still lands him as a low-end RB2 for me. If you’re scared, I don’t blame you; and if you’re loaded at the position, benching Barkley certainly isn’t out of the realm of possibility.

• Barkley in wins this season: 18.8 PPG
• Barkley in losses this season: 10.7 PPG

Trending Start/Sit Searches for Barkley

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It also allows us to see the most popular trending searches, and we’ve jotted some of them down here to help provide some clarity!

Should You Start Barkley or Tony Pollard?

In a spot like this, I’m happy to bet on the offense I trust more, and in that sense, this isn’t close. The Dallas Cowboys are clicking on all cylinders and with Tony Pollard scoring in three straight games, he is benefiting from the elite play of Dak Prescott.

MORE: PFN Consensus Rankings

While I believe that Barkley can produce this week, the upside that he has access to is capped in a significant way by an offense that can’t consistently move the chains, let alone get into scoring position. Pollard is the player to start in this scenario.

Should You Start Barkley or David Montgomery?

This is where I’m comfortable siding with Barkley. The Detroit Lions offense is strong, we know that, but we also know that Jared Goff is a different QB when playing outside of a dome, and that has me pulling back the overall projections on everything touching this offense.

Combine that with the fact that Barkley is a good bet to hold the touch edge over David Montgomery, and I’ll side with the more explosive back over the one that needs a touchdown in a tough spot!

PFN Consensus’ Week 14 RB Rankings

1) Christian McCaffrey | SF (vs. SEA) 2) Alvin Kamara | NO (vs. CAR) 3) Austin Ekeler | LAC (vs. DEN) 4) Isiah Pacheco | KC (vs. BUF) 5) Zack Moss | IND (at CIN) 6) Josh Jacobs | LV (vs. MIN) 7) Tony Pollard | DAL (vs. PHI) 8) Rachaad White | TB (at ATL) 9) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX (at CLE) 10) Bijan Robinson | ATL (vs. TB) 11) Kyren Williams | LAR (vs. BAL) 12) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET (at CHI) 13) Saquon Barkley | NYG (vs. GB) 14) James Cook | BUF (at KC) 15) Raheem Mostert | MIA (vs. TEN) 16) De’Von Achane | MIA (vs. TEN) 17) Derrick Henry | TEN (at MIA) 18) David Montgomery | DET (at CHI) 19) D’Andre Swift | PHI (at DAL) 20) Javonte Williams | DEN (at LAC) 21) Breece Hall | NYJ (vs. HOU) 22) Joe Mixon | CIN (vs. IND) 23) Jerome Ford | CLE (vs. JAX) 24) AJ Dillon | GB (at NYG) 25) Ezekiel Elliott | NE (at PIT) 26) Gus Edwards | BAL (vs. LAR) 27) Najee Harris | PIT (vs. NE) 28) Alexander Mattison | MIN (at LV) 29) Jaylen Warren | PIT (vs. NE) 30) Chuba Hubbard | CAR (at NO)

31) Keaton Mitchell | BAL (vs. LAR) 32) Devin Singletary | HOU (at NYJ) 33) Zach Charbonnet | SEA (at SF) 34) Tyjae Spears | TEN (at MIA) 35) Kenneth Walker III | SEA (at SF) 36) Dameon Pierce | HOU (at NYJ) 37) Khalil Herbert | CHI (vs. DET) 38) Kareem Hunt | CLE (vs. JAX) 39) Roschon Johnson | CHI (vs. DET) 40) Ty Chandler | MIN (at LV) 41) Miles Sanders | CAR (at NO) 42) Samaje Perine | DEN (at LAC) 43) Tyler Allgeier | ATL (vs. TB) 44) D’Ernest Johnson | JAX (at CLE) 45) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI (at DAL) 46) Joshua Kelley | LAC (vs. DEN) 47) Rico Dowdle | DAL (vs. PHI) 48) Cordarrelle Patterson | ATL (vs. TB) 49) Jamaal Williams | NO (vs. CAR) 50) Royce Freeman | LAR (vs. BAL)

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