It’s one thing for Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry to be ranked as the No. 1 rusher in the NFL on the lists of analysts, but it’s another thing to be ranked in the top spot based on the opinions of his peers.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler polled 50 players, coaches and executives in order to determine who the best running back in the NFL is ahead of the 2021 season, and Henry once again reigned supreme, something he has done on several running back rankings this offseason.
Here’s some interesting quotes about Henry from Fowler’s article that come from some of the people he spoke to.
“If you’re comfortable staying patient with 2- and 3-yard gains in the first half, knowing those same runs will turn into 8-yard runs in the second half, then he’s by far the best player at this position,” an NFC offensive coach said.
An NFC scout added: “He wears your ass out. He’s a train.”
However, one NFC executive that was polled said he would take Cleveland Browns rusher Nick Chubb, who landed at No. 4 on the list, over Henry because “he’s a little more explosive,” a statement Fowler tried to back up.
“Best pure runner in football,” an NFC exec said. “I’d take him over Henry because he’s a little more explosive.”
Chubb is good for a 20-plus-yard run nearly every week, with 12 such runs on 190 attempts, or once every 15.8 runs. Henry averaged 20-plus yards on every 23.6 carries.
Henry was ranked at No. 5 on this list last year, and one voter ranked him as low as sixth this year, but that wasn’t enough to stop him from landing at No. 1 overall.
The Alabama product, who is fresh off a 2,000-yard season and second-straight rushing title, has a good chance to accomplish one or both of those feats in 2021.
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