A.J. Brown has spent six years in the NFL, and in between stints with the talented Miles Sanders and D’Andre Swift, the Eagles All-Pro wide receiver has gotten a close look at two future Hall of Famers, Derrick Henry and Saquon Barkley.
While talking to NBC’s Devin McCourty ahead of the huge Sunday night matchup against the Rams, Brown admits that he was picking former Titans teammate Derrick Henry as the best running back in the NFL until Saquon Barkley leaped backward over a Jaguars defender several weeks ago.
Brown has now changed his tune and calls Barkley the “best in the world.”
A.J. Brown changed his vote for MVP after Saquon Barkley’s reverse hurdle. 😂 pic.twitter.com/d8XV7SSG7Q
— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) November 24, 2024
Baltimore’s No. 2-ranked ground attack (177.3 ypg) is fueled by Derrick Henry, who leads the league in rushing yards (1,185) and total touchdowns (15 – 13 rushing & 2 receiving). Henry (first 11 in 2024), the late O.J. Simpson (first 14 in 1975), Jerry Rice (first 12 in 1987), and John Riggins (first 12 in 1983) are the only four players in league history to score at least one touchdown in their first eleven games with a new team.
Barkley leads the NFL in scrimmage yards per game (134.7) and rushing yards per game (113.7). In Week 11 vs. Washington, he reached 1,000+ rushing yards for the fourth time in his career, having previously done so in 2018 (1,307), 2019 (1,003) and 2022 (1,312). Barkley is the second player in franchise history to produce 1,000+ rushing yards through 10 games, joining LeSean McCoy in 2011.
Only four players in NFL history have rushed for 1,125+ yards (1,137) and 8+ TDs while averaging 5.8+ yards per carry through the first ten games of the season — Barkley (2024), Chris Johnson (2009), Walter. Payton (1977) and Jim Brown (1958 and 1963). Barkley became the first to reach those marks in their first season with a new team. As Brown said, he’ll have a front-row seat for both players in the Week 13 Ravens vs. Eagles matchup in Baltimore.
