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Giants Now: Saquon named most anticipated return

GIANTSNOW_HEADLINE_7.7

Saquon Barkley named most anticipated return in 2021

The Giants offense will have several new faces in the huddle this season after Kenny Golladay, Kyle Rudolph and John Ross were added in free agency and Kadarius Toney was selected in the first round of the draft.

But perhaps the biggest addition to the offense in 2021 is the return of running back Saquon Barkley, who suffered a torn ACL in the first half of the team's Week 2 game against the Chicago Bears last year.

NFL.com contributing columnist Adam Schein ranked his top nine players he can't wait to watch return to the field following injuries suffered in 2020, and the Giants' star running back landed at the very top of the list.

As Schein writes, "I miss Saquon's dynamic skill set. I miss the speed. I miss the cuts. I miss the hands. Barkley had 91 catches as a rookie. It feels like a lifetime ago. The game is just better when Barkley is doing mind-bending stuff. Kids love him. Adults fawn over him. He's a marketing dream in Market No. 1.

Barkley wouldn't offer a firm timetable for return last month, but the man's beach training vids have me champing at the bit. I can't wait to watch a healthy Barkley again. I'm putting him first on this list because of how electric he was -- and how long it's been since we've witnessed that electricity."

Barkley took home the 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award after leading the league with 2,028 yards from scrimmage (1,307 rushing, 721 receiving) to go with 15 total touchdowns. He followed that up with 1,003 rushing yards in 13 games in 2019, becoming the first player in franchise history to rush for over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons.

Last year, Barkley was limited to two games, 19 rushing attempts for 34 yards and six receptions for 60 yards. He underwent surgery on Oct. 30 and has been rehabbing with the goal of being ready to join his teammates for the start of training camp later this month.

Earlier this summer, Pro Football Hall of Famer and NFL Network analyst LaDainian Tomlinson listed Barkley among the NFL's top running backs in 2021.

View photos of Giants running back Saquon Barkley's time with the New York Giants.