SAQUON TAKING THE LEAD

FEW WOULD argue that Saquon Barkley was one of the brightest stars among NFL newcomers in 2018.

Now the question is this: What does he have in store for an encore? When a rookie running back rushes for 1,307 yards, a 5.0yard average per carry with 11 TDs and produces 2,028 yards from scrimmage (the third-most by a rookie in NFL history) and he does it behind a struggling offensive line, it leaves you to wonder how much better he can be in his second season behind a better offensive line. When the Giants running back, the second-overall pick in the 2018 draft, was asked after practice Friday what a “proper’’ sophomore encore would be to his high-level production as a freshman, Barkley said, “I consider a proper encore would be just doing whatever I can to help my team to get in position to compete in the playoffs, and compete for a championship.’’ Good answer. Actually, the perfect answer. The Giants, after all, finished last season with a 5-11 record, residing in the NFC East basement for the second consecutive season.

The Giants improved by two games from 2017 to ’18 — even with the production of the rare-talent Barkley, and that’s not enough.

Twenty-four miles to the west of East Rutherford, in Florham Park, the Jets are expecting their second-year quarterback, Sam Darnold, to turn them into not just a winner, but a championship contender. And soon.

The Giants, of course, passed on Darnold as their successor to Eli Manning and instead selected Barkley. Whether it’s fair or not — and it certainly isn’t to Barkley — he’s going to be a part of that comparison for the rest of his career.

And you know what: There isn’t a better, more polished athlete around to handle those comparisons, whether they’re favorable to him or not.

Barkley does and says all the right things. Don’t expect that to change.

Not that Barkley was a wallflower as a rookie, but everyone around the Giants senses him asserting himself as one of the leaders of the team now. The outsized ego and presence of receiver