Saquon Barkley, described by some as a "generational running back," is The Associated Press 2018 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Barkley led the NFL with 2,024 yards from scrimmage this past season. He also set a rookie record with 91 receptions and made the Pro Bowl.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, who threw for 50 touchdowns and 5,097 yards in his first season as a starter, earned the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award Saturday. Matt Nagy won the league's top coaching honor in his first year leading the Bears.
Browns QB Baker Mayfield and Giants RB Saquon Barkley, the top two picks in last year's NFL draft, have a bet riding on the outcome of the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.
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The second overall draft pick who rushed for 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns behind a weak New York Giants offensive line drew 26.5 votes from a nationwide panel of media members who regularly cover the league.
Barkley edged top overall draft pick Baker Mayfield, who earned 21.5 votes. In addition to the award, Barkley also will soon be sporting a chain -- courtesy of Mayfield -- as a result of a wager with the Cleveland Browns' rookie quarterback on the outcome.
"The loser's got to get someone else a chain," Barkley told Cleveland.com earlier this week. "We get to pick the chain and we get to have fun with it because obviously everyone's talking about who's going to win."
• Saquon Barkley became the third rookie in NFL history to have 2,000 scrimmage yards (Eric Dickerson in 1983 & Edgerrin James in 1999).
• Barkley recorded a rookie RB-record 91 receptions, including a single-game franchise-record 14 catches in Week 2, also tied for the most by a rookie running back in league annals.
• Barkley's six rushes of 50-plus yards this season were the most by a Giants player in a season since the merger in 1970, per Elias.
• Barkley finished as the No. 1 running back in fantasy by 0.3 points over Christian McCaffrey.
In a rarity, a guard, Quenton Nelson of the Indianapolis Colts got two votes in balloting announced at NFL Honors on Saturday.
Barkley also made a team-high 91 receptions -- an NFL record for a rookie running back -- for 721 yards, and his 2,028 yards from scrimmage led the league.
"This kid is a special player, a special talent," Eagles coach Doug Pederson said. "He's such a big, powerful guy that has breakaway speed. Sometimes, it's impossible, but you kind of have to get two or three bodies on him. He's a tremendous running back, and a load to bring down."
Barkley is the second Giants player in five seasons to win the award; wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. took it in 2014. They are the only Giants to win it.
ESPN Stats & Information and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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