Saquon’s position may berunningback, but he knows receiving is key

SO IT TURNS out Saquon Barkley isn’t perfect.

“Eli [Manning]’s everything that I thought he would be,” Barkley told The Post. “He’s definitely a lot funnier than I thought.

“But as a player and as a leader ... like today, I accidentally called him ‘Coach.’ I don’t even think he heard it. But I looked at Evan [Engram], I was like, ‘I just called him Coach.’”

Barkley smiled when he said that. He does a lot of smiling, a dream football player and a dream young man living a dream ... and soon to be a nightmare matchup out of the backfield for linebackers and safeties alike.

Odell Beckham Jr. — and Sterling Shepard and Engram — defenses will be confronting a Catch-26 dilemma.

“You look where the game’s evolving, you look at the great backs in the league right now, they’re all able to do that,” Barkley said. “I want to be one of those great backs one day, and I know it’s not gonna just happen with the blink of an eye. That’s a threat. I think I can be a threat in that area of the game, and that’s something that the defense has to have another responsibility for. So that’s why I love it.”

Eli Apple recalls when Barkley rushed for 194 yards for Penn State against his Buckeyes in 2015.

“He’s quick, man, he’s really quick, and he’s savvy,” Apple said. “He can have like an Alvin Kamara type of role, the way the Saints use him.”

Le’Veon Bell caught 85 passes for 655 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver last season. David Johnson was 80-879-4 in 2016. Barkley will catch 60-80 balls.

“It’s kinda the trend in the league now — you get your backs out in space and get ‘ em the ball and let ‘ em make plays,” linebacker Alec Ogletree said. “He’s one of those guys that has the ability to come out of the backfield and catch the ball and able to take it to the house at any moment.”

Barkley is a 233-pounder with the shiftiness of a smaller man.

“We all remember Brian Westbrook and guys like that, where they are big-time threats when you throw it to ‘em,” Pat Shurmur said. “Running backs need to catch the ball in today’s offense.” Coach Manning needs to throw the ball. “We try to change some looks up and try to surprise him, he always knows what to check into,” Apple said. “He’s looking really good.”

And the refurbished offensive line needs to protect Coach Manning.

“I see them hanging out all the time together, so I definitely think they’re coming together for sure,” Ogletree said.

Engram has flashed All-Pro ability in camp.

Barkley: “I’ve been around [former Penn State tight end] Mike Gesicki, a great athletic tight end, too, but Evan Engram is amazing. I don’t know if there’s a lineback-

er or safety that can cover Evan Engram on a consistent basis.”

Apple: “He’s been damn near uncoverable, the situations they put him in and the way they have him run his routes.”

Shepard, who along with the rest of the receivers will line up anywhere and everywhere, is ready to emerge as a lethal weapon.

Barkley: “He’s a big-play guy. I think a lot of people don’t speak about him enough, but sometimes it’s better to keep things quiet, and I think he could have a really special year for this team.”

Apple: “Shep’s a dog in the slot. He’s also been really mastering outside really well. He’s gonna definitely be a problem, too.”

Oh, No. 13.

Barkley: “I don’t think he touched his peak yet, even close to his peak.”

Apple: “He looks super hungry, man. He keeps me on my toes and keeps me going ‘cause I know if I have an off day or something, he’s gonna make me look really bad, so I can’t let that happen.” Stopping the Giants offense: a Catch-26. “Every single day I write down what I’m thankful for,” Barkley said, “and one thing I write down is ‘Opportunity.’ A lot of people would love to be in this position. There’s some kids that can’t even walk, some kids that can’t even talk and would just love to be playing football, and I’m able to do that. It’s a blessing.”

He’s a blessing for Coach Manning and the Giants.