Bill Simmons dismisses Saquon Barkley’s case as frontrunner in favor of 20-TD QB: “We can’t say he’s the MVP”

Bill Simmons, a prominent sports analyst and podcast host, has dismissed the notion of Saquon Barkley being a frontrunner for the NFL MVP award this season. Despite Barkley’s impressive performances with the New York Giants, Simmons believes that winning the MVP as a non-quarterback is highly unlikely in today’s NFL landscape.

On a recent episode of his podcast, Simmons explained that the MVP award is historically dominated by quarterbacks and that for any player other than a QB to win the prestigious award, they need to have an exceptional season—one that transcends the usual level of greatness. While Barkley has been outstanding, particularly in the Giants’ run game, Simmons argued that his case for MVP simply doesn’t measure up compared to other candidates.

Simmons stated that a quarterback who can throw for 20 touchdowns and lead his team to success is more likely to win the MVP, regardless of how good a running back or other position player might perform. The bar for non-QBs, in Simmons’ view, is incredibly high, and Barkley, though stellar, hasn’t reached that level yet.

Barkley has had several highlight-reel plays, including big runs and strong performances in both the rushing and receiving game, but Simmons believes that those performances aren’t enough to put him in the MVP conversation when stacked up against elite quarterbacks. He emphasized that in order for Barkley to be considered a legitimate MVP contender, he would need to put up a truly extraordinary season—something that can’t be ignored, even in the face of dominant quarterback play.

The podcast segment also touched on the broader dynamics of the NFL MVP voting, which has long favored quarterbacks, particularly those who can accumulate significant passing yards, touchdowns, and lead their teams to playoff contention. Simmons noted that despite the incredible play from non-QBs, such as Barkley, it’s still an uphill battle for them to break through in a league where the spotlight is often on quarterbacks.

Ultimately, Simmons’ take is a reminder of how difficult it is for a running back like Barkley to win MVP in the modern NFL. While he’s undeniably one of the most exciting and talented players in the league, he faces a tough challenge in a quarterback-centric league, where the MVP award is typically reserved for the game’s most important position.