After impressive efforts in their first games with new teams last week, two running backs — Saquon Barkley from the NFC and Joe Mixon from the AFC — earned Offensive Player of the Week honors, the NFL announced Wednesday afternoon. The awards underline a season-opening offensive trend.
Barkley padded his international stardom in a 34-29 triumph over Green Bay Friday night in Brazil. After signing as a free agent with Philadelphia this offseason, Barkley piled up 132 scrimmage yards (109 rushing, 23 receiving) to earn his fourth career weekly honor. He also earned Week 1 honors for the Giants in 2022, in addition to Week 16 in 2019 and Week 11 in 2018.
Only three Eagles running backs over the past 10 seasons have earned the award, D’Andre Swift (2023) and Boston Scott (2019).
Two days later, Mixon gave Houston an immediate return on its offseason trade, leading the league with 178 scrimmage yards (159 rushing, 19 receiving) in the Texans’ AFC South win at Indianapolis. Mixon also won the award three times previously, all with Cincinnati. He’s the fourth Texans running back to earn the honor, joining Arian Foster (three times), Devin Singletary (2023) and Steve Slaton (2008).