Saquon Barkley has the potential to be a fantasy football matchup winner any time he takes the field, and given his recent usage, a matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders this week (27th in yards per carry allowed) would seem to be a spot where his talent can shine through.

That sort of promise is what makes tracking his health so important. He, of course, missed time earlier this season with an ankle injury, and he is again being limited in practice as it nags at him. How should fantasy managers be approaching this situation as we near kickoff?

Latest Injury Update on Saquon Barkley

The New York Giants have been taking it easy on their All-World running back, and for good reason. Not only did he have the high ankle sprain in September, but they’ve loaded him up with work since his return.

• Week 6: 28 touches against the Buffalo Bills
• Week 7: 24 touches against the Washington Commanders
• Week 8: 39 touches against the New York Jets

A fully healthy running back would require some practice limitations after a month like that! The Giants pretty clearly need to establish the run to have any shot at remaining competitive these days, and without much reliable depth at the position, this is Barkley’s show to lead.

Will Barkley Play This Week?

All signs currently point to New York simply trying to get Barkley some rest before counting on him heavily again this week as Daniel Jones is poised to return to action. With this game being in the late-afternoon window on Sunday, his status certainly needs to be monitored (bookmark this article, we will keep you updated!).

In fact, that cannot be overstated. You NEED to be confident in where you stand on the Barkley decision because there aren’t a ton of late options to fill in should you elect to pencil in a questionable Barkley. We will keep you abreast of the situation, and the PFN Fantasy YouTube Channel is another good spot to go Sunday at noon — before the 1 p.m. EST games kickoff, we answer your questions and can lend a hand should this Barkley situation get cloudy.

Editor’s note: Barkley does not carry an injury designation going into Week 9’s matchup against the Raiders.

What Does This Mean For Barkley’s Fantasy Ranking?

The risk factor should lower him a touch in your Week 9 rankings, but not enough, at the moment, to consider sitting him down.

Even a slight reduction of volume would result in Barkley owning one of the most fantasy-friendly roles in the game, and his ability to make splash plays (30+ yard touch in all three games since returning) makes him an RB1 for me in this advantageous matchup.

MORE: Fantasy Football News Tracker

The downside, of course, is that you can’t back him up with a back on his own team. If Barkley were to sit, Matt Breida is likely the next man up and can maybe bail you out in a pinch, but he wouldn’t crack my top 30 at the position based on how poorly he played in that exact spot earlier this season.

For more on this matchup and every other game on the schedule this week, check out the Week 9 Cheat Sheet — every player on your roster (and then some!) is discussed.

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!