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It’s unfathomable that Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry can still be disrespected in this day and age after all that he’s accomplished, but here we are.
In an ESPN survey ranking the top-10 running backs in the league based on the opinions of NFL executives, coaches and scouts, Henry landed at No. 5 on the list after being No. 1 in 2022.
Before we get to why that’s ridiculous, here’s the write-up:
The two-time rushing champion fell four spots, narrowly making the top five.
The issue with Henry is age (29) and tread. Entering his eighth NFL season, he has led the league in carries in three of the past four years, including 349 in 2022. That’s a lot to ask of a back, even a 247-pound iron man such as Henry.
But he’s still really good. His 888 rushing yards after contact last season were the second most by a player in a season since ESPN began tracking the stat in 2009. Adrian Peterson had 1,019 yards after contact in 2012.
“There’s a little decline, but he’s still an anomaly,” an NFL personnel director said. “You just don’t know how long it will last. If anyone can do it, it will be him. Adrian Peterson is a guy like that. They can last longer.”
Henry finished with 1,538 rushing yards last season, the second-most in the NFL behind Las Vegas Raiders running back, Josh Jacobs, who had a career year.
However, three of the four backs ranked ahead of him on this list (Saquon Barkley, Christian McCaffrey and Nick Chubb) all finished with less.
Henry tallied that total despite running behind the worst offensive line in the league, and with no passing attack to take pressure off him. Adding to that, his now-former offensive coordinator, Todd Downing, was inept at his job.
One of the biggest knocks on Henry’s career has been his lack of production in the passing game, but he checked that box in 2022, finishing with career-highs in receptions (33) and yards (398), the latter of which was more than both Barkley and Chubb.
I mean, what else could he have done?
Making this ranking more ridiculous is the fact that Henry still garnered the No. 1 spot in 2022 off a 2021 season in which he missed half the campaign due to injury.
Nothing about Henry’s ranking makes sense and this list is completely invalidated because of it. In case you’re still interested, here’s how the entire top 10 shook out:
- Nick Chubb
- Christian McCaffrey
- Josh Jacobs
- Saquon Barkley
- Derrick Henry
- Jonathan Taylor
- Alvin Kamara
- Dalvin Cook
- Tony Pollard
- Austin Ekeler
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