Projecting How the Giants Running Back Rotation Will Look Like Post-Saquon

With Saquon Barkley out, the Giants need to get contributions from other running backs. What will the rotation look like and be their approach and what do the backs have to offer?

The season-ending ACL injury to running back Saquon Barkley has been a devastating development for the Giants offense. But unfortunately, the show must go on without Barkley, whom head coach Joe Judge plans to keep as involved as protocols allow and as Barley's medial and rehab schedules allow.

So what will the Giants do for the rest of the year?

Well, their current options include Wayne Gallman, Dion Lewis, and newly signed Devonta Freeman, all of whom will get a chance to contribute toward helping the Giants running game out of the league cellar.

Of the three, Freeman is probably closest to Barkley in terms of skillset and skill level. Freeman is a physically punishing back who also can be deployed as a receiver out of the backfield.

But he's also only had three practices under his belt after missing all of training camp and the first two weeks of the season while trying to figure out his next move following his release by the Atlanta Falcons.

Freeman, whom head coach Joe Judge said is a fast learner, is open to doing whatever is needed. However, there is one significant obstacle he needs to overcome before offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is likely to turn the 28-year-old Freeman loose against opposing defenses.

Get into football shape.

"All that stuff that these guys have been through in camp is definitely a different type of shape than I’ve trained my body to be in," Freeman said this week.

"I know that I’m in shape and just have to continue to get in game-shape and practice-shape--keep climbing and keep getting better. It’s definitely a difference. I’m also working towards that, to get my body in the best condition I can be in."

As Freeman works himself into game shape, he'll likely see a smidgen of snaps in his Giants debut this weekend, but expect his workload to increase in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, the bulk of the running game snaps will likely be taken by Wayne Gallman, a fourth-year player and fourth-round draft pick of the Giants from 2017 who, after a promising rookie season in which he ran for 476 yards on 111 carries, has seen his star fade.

Gallman was a healthy scratch last week for the Giants; the year prior, he was scratched from Weeks 12 onward, losing his spot in the backfield rotation to Buck Allen, added in-season.

It was never revealed exactly why Gallman fell out of favor, but two things stand out in looking at his career history. One, Gallman isn't a contributor on special teams, which for guys who are at the low end of the depth chart at their position is like the kiss of death when it comes to getting a gameday uniform.

The other thing is Gallman has seven career dropped passes in 78 pass targets. Again, when you're on the low end of the depth chart at your position, your game needs to be as pristine as possible. And along those lines, Gallman, 6'), 210 pounds, has only managed to break 14 tackles, which probably hasn't helped his case.

Dion Lewis, the third-down back and who has been called upon in spot duty to relieve Barkley before his injury, is more of an outside runner at this point in his career than he is a power rusher between the tackles. Lewis has also been the Giants' most consistent pass-blocking back through two games, a role he's expected to continue filling.

"Each individual has his individual talents that he's good at," said Giants running backs coach Burton Burns. "We just got to figure out what their qualities are, and we got to fit it into our offensive scheme and just be efficient."