Tag: darrell henderson jr

Should Rams continue to use a committee at RB with Kyren Williams out?

The Rams deployed a RB committee against the Steelers, but did either Royce Freeman or Darrell Henderson Jr. emerge as the better option?

It wasn’t until Sunday morning that we learned of the Rams’ plan at running back with Kyren Williams out. While many expected them to simply hand the reins to Zach Evans, it was Royce Freeman and Darrell Henderson Jr. who got all of the work against the Steelers.

Evans, meanwhile, didn’t play a single snap.

Freeman rushed for a team-high 66 yards on 12 carries, while Henderson had 61 yards on 18 carries, with one touchdown. Henderson also added a 5-yard reception, giving him 66 scrimmage yards to match Freeman.

It was neither a breakout game nor a poor performance from either player, but the Rams could tweak their plan at running back for Week 8 against the Cowboys. Should they lean on one of their backs as the primary rusher, or should they continue to use a committee?

The statistics show Freeman was the more efficient back on Sunday, averaging 5.5 yards per carry compared to Henderson’s 3.4 average. Freeman gained 12 rushing yards over expected, according to Next Gen Stats, which was the fourth-best mark of any running back in Week 7. Henderson was at the other end of the spectrum, ranking seventh-worst with minus-12 RYOE.

What helped Freeman is the fact that like Williams in the first six weeks, he didn’t face a single box with at least eight defenders. Henderson faced one on 16.7% of his carries, which made it tougher sledding for him.

Freeman’s run grade of 80.3 from Pro Football Focus was considerably better than Henderson’s 60.4, and it partly had to do with Freeman forcing four missed tackles compared to Henderson’s zero. Freeman also had two carries of 10-plus yards versus Henderson’s one.

While Henderson scored a touchdown and had a nice 16-yard carry early on, it was Freeman who had the better game. The Rams will likely utilize both players again on Sunday, especially knowing that was Henderson’s first game since last November, so Sean McVay won’t want to wear down either running back.

That’s not the news fantasy managers want to hear, but it’ll probably be a committee again on Sunday in Dallas unless one player emerges with a particularly hot hand.

Rams add fuel to the ‘RBs don’t matter’ fire with Henderson-Freeman tandem

The Rams got 127 yards out of Darrell Henderson Jr. and Royce Freeman, who hadn’t touched the ball all season.

There’s no question the running back position has been devalued in recent years. Teams aren’t paying top dollar for even the best backs in football, which resulted in holdouts for Josh Jacobs, Saquon Barkley and Jonathan Taylor this offseason.

It’s created a “running backs don’t matter” narrative that certainly holds some truth, and you don’t have to look any further than the Los Angeles Rams for clear-cut evidence. They showed in 2018 that you don’t need a premier back to have success running the ball, riding C.J. Anderson in the playoffs when Todd Gurley was banged up.

This year, they’ve gotten more production out of Kyren Williams, a fifth-rounder, than they ever did with Cam Akers, a second-round pick in 2020. And now that Williams is out with an ankle injury, the Rams have had to turn to a committee that’s led by two running backs who hadn’t touched the ball on offense in the first six weeks.

In fact, Darrell Henderson Jr. was out of the NFL since last November until the Rams added him to their practice squad last week. In the first six games of the season, Royce Freeman didn’t get a single touch with the Rams.

Yet, both players managed to put up decent numbers in Williams’ absence on Sunday against the Steelers. Freeman led the team in rushing with 66 yards on just 12 attempts, averaging a healthy 5.5 yards per carry. Henderson was less efficient, but he still had 61 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries.

Since the start of the 2022 season, the Rams have only had seven games with more rushing yards than the 135 they had on Sunday against Pittsburgh. How much do running backs really matter if you can get 61 yards out of a guy who’s been available for almost a year, and 66 yards out of someone who had just 456 total yards in the previous three years combined?

It’s not as if the Rams used a premium draft pick to find their leading rusher this season, Williams. He was a fifth-rounder who barely played as a rookie in 2022, yet he has 456 yards rushing, 105 yards receiving and seven touchdowns this season.

No one is arguing that Williams is as productive or impactful as, say, Christian McCaffrey. McCaffrey is obviously the better player. But the Rams spent a fifth-round pick on Williams, while the 49ers traded second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-round picks for McCaffrey and pay him $16 million per year.

In their first six games this season, Williams rushed for 456 yards and six touchdowns, while McCaffrey rushed for 553 and seven touchdowns. McCaffrey has 72 more yards receiving, but is the gap in production really that huge? Williams is averaging 5.1 yards per touch and McCaffrey averages 5.5.

Going back to the original point, the Rams have shown they can get value out of running backs who A) don’t cost much and B) don’t need much experience in their offense. We saw that with Anderson five years ago, we saw it with Williams this season, and we saw it with Henderson and Freeman on Sunday.

It’s why so many have made the case that running backs don’t matter.

Darrell Henderson Jr. and Royce Freeman expected to lead Rams backfield vs. Steelers

The Rams are expected to lean on Darrell Henderson Jr. and Royce Freeman at RB on Sunday, with Zach Evans backing them up

Many expected Zach Evans to fill in while Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers are out, but the Los Angeles Rams appear to be going in a different direction Sunday against the Steelers. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Rams are expected to lean on Darrell Henderson Jr. and Royce Freeman, with Evans backing them up.

Henderson was just added to the practice squad last week and was temporarily added to the active roster for Week 7, while Freeman has been with the Rams since the summer. Evans is the running back who’s been with Los Angeles the longest in 2023, but Henderson previously played three-plus years with the Rams before being cut last season.

From a fantasy perspective, it’s impossible to feel confident starting any of the Rams’ running backs this week. However, it’s worth adding at least Henderson or Freeman in case one of them establishes himself as the starter moving forward.

The Rams put Williams and Rivers on injured reserve so they’ll miss at least the next four games, which means they’re first eligible to return in Week 12 – a five-week absence including the team’s bye in Week 10.

Williams has been a workhorse all season but Los Angeles will need to go in a different direction for the next month or so while he’s out.

Sean McVay not revealing RB plan but Darrell Henderson Jr. will be active vs. Steelers

Darrell Henderson Jr. will be active against the Steelers but Sean McVay isn’t revealing the Rams’ plan at running back

Kyren Williams has been the Rams’ workhorse back all season but he’s going to miss Sunday’s game against the Steelers due to an ankle injury. Ronnie Rivers is also out with a PCL sprain, so the Rams’ backfield is going to look very different this weekend.

Sean McVay told reporters on Friday that Darrell Henderson Jr., who was signed this week, will be promoted from the practice squad and active against the Steelers. What McVay didn’t say publicly is how the running back rotation will shake out between Henderson, Zach Evans, Royce Freeman and Myles Gaskin.

He declined to disclose the Rams’ plan despite having an idea of what it will look like on Sunday.

Evans has been the No. 3 back this season and got four carries last week against the Cardinals after Williams and Rivers went down, so he would seem like the logical replacement until Williams can return. However, he’s inexperienced in pass protection, which is an area where Freeman and Henderson are much better.

It’s nearly impossible to tell who the Rams will use the most this week, so from a fantasy perspective, it’s probably best to keep all of their running backs on the bench this week.

Rams bring back RB Darrell Henderson Jr., sign him to practice squad

The Rams have reunited with Darrell Henderson Jr., signing him to the practice squad

The Los Angeles Rams were in need of running back help with Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers both injured, and they found some on Tuesday. The Rams announced they have signed Darrell Henderson Jr. to the practice squad, reuniting with the veteran who they cut last season.

Additionally, the Rams signed Royce Freeman to the active roster, so he will help fill the void of Williams and Rivers this week.

It’s unclear exactly what the plan with Henderson is, but he’ll provide some additional depth behind rookie Zach Evans, who is the presumed starter, and Freeman. Williams is expected to miss at least one week, while Rivers could be out 4-5 weeks with a PCL injury.

Henderson was drafted by the Rams in the third round in 2019, spending three-plus years in Los Angeles. He rushed for 1,742 yards and 13 touchdowns during his tenure, averaging 4.4 yards per carry.

After being cut by the Rams last November, Henderson was claimed off waivers by the Jaguars but he only lasted a couple of weeks in Jacksonville before being cut. He hasn’t played a game since last November and wasn’t on a roster this offseason.

Darrell Henderson Jr. waived by Jaguars before ever taking a snap

Darrell Henderson Jr. has already been waived by the Jaguars, never even taking a snap in Jacksonville

Darrell Henderson Jr. was shockingly waived by the Rams last month as the team made major changes, also releasing Justin Hollins from the 53-man roster on the same day. The Jaguars promptly scooped up Henderson, claiming him off waivers the next day.

Henderson was inactive for his first two games with the Jaguars and now he’s back on the market again. The Jaguars announced on Friday that they’ve waived Henderson, a surprising move involving the former Rams running back. He never appeared in a game for Jacksonville.

Henderson rushed for 283 yards on 70 carries with the Rams this season, scoring three touchdowns and catching 17 passes for 102 yards. He’s set to be a free agent in March so if any team claims him off waivers, they’ll inherit the remainder of his contract for 2022.

Salary cap impact of Rams waiving Darrell Henderson Jr. and Justin Hollins

What is the salary cap impact of the Rams cutting Darrell Henderson Jr. and Justin Hollins?

Out of nowhere, the Los Angeles Rams waived two players who have been starters for them this season. They cut their leading rusher, Darrell Henderson Jr., and outside linebacker Justin Hollins, who has played half the defensive snaps.

Henderson’s release was particularly surprising, especially after he mysteriously played just four snaps on Sunday – which Sean McVay says was due to him feeling “a little something in his knee” pre-game.

As with every move, there are salary cap ramifications of these two releases. Being this late in the season, it won’t make a huge difference financially for the Rams.

According to Spotrac, the Rams will save $412,460 by waiving Henderson, which is the remaining money left on his contract, none of which is guaranteed. With Hollins, he had a salary cap hit of $965,000 this year and will now only take up $589,772 in cap space as dead money the rest of the year. That means the Rams save $375,228 by waiving Hollins.

Both players were set to be free agents this offseason, so there’s no impact on the 2023 cap.

  • Darrell Henderson Jr.: $412,460K savings
  • Justin Hollins: $375,228K savings
  • Total savings: $787,688

The Rams now have two roster spots open, and if Matthew Stafford and John Wolford are both sidelined in Week 12, they’ll need to sign a quarterback. They could also use some running back depth with just two on the 53-man roster.

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Why did the Rams waive Darrell Henderson Jr.?

Here’s our best guess as to why the Rams waived Darrell Henderson Jr. at this point in the season

It’s a great question that bears asking. Certainly, plenty of folks on Twitter are confused by the move made by the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday, though Darrell Henderson Jr. himself doesn’t seem surprised by it.

So why exactly did the Rams waive Henderson at this point in the season?

He’s been their most efficient tailback, has led the Rams’ running backs in snaps two of the last three weeks and has started 28 games in the last three-plus seasons. He even started Sunday’s game against the Saints, only to play four snaps and carry the ball twice all afternoon.

There are a few possible explanations for this move, and we may never find out the whole truth about why the Rams cut Henderson in Week 12.

One possibility is that Henderson privately asked to be released after only carrying it eight times in the last two games and just 70 times all season. The Rams have a crowded backfield with Cam Akers and Kyren Williams also getting snaps, and it’s likely that Henderson feels he’s starter material. He wouldn’t be wrong for wanting a bigger role and more opportunities, especially in a contract year.

Based on his immediate reaction on Twitter to his release, he seems happy about the move, which allows him to land with another team on waivers or sign with anyone if he isn’t claimed.

By waiving him, the Rams are giving him a chance to potentially play more with another team before hitting free agency in March.

Sean McVay said multiple times when Akers requested a trade that the team was looking to give him a “fresh start.” Could they be doing the same with Henderson?

It’s also impossible to ignore the Rams’ current situation, sitting at 3-7. They can’t openly say they’re tanking or quitting on the season, but there’s a near-0% chance they miss the playoffs this year.

They’d probably like to give their younger players a chance to show what they’re capable of, including Williams. He was their fifth-round pick this year, someone they traded up to draft. The team wanted to give him a role as early as Week 1 when he injured his ankle, and he’s starting to play more meaningful snaps now that he’s healthy.

With Henderson out of the picture, the carries will either go to Akers or Williams. And unlike Henderson, Akers and Williams are both under contract in 2023. It was highly unlikely the Rams were going to re-sign Henderson next offseason, so giving him playing time over Akers and Williams wouldn’t exactly help the team or the players involved.

Now, Henderson can possibly become a starter elsewhere and the Rams can better evaluate the running backs who are signed through next season. There’s a very real possibility the Rams are doing right by Henderson, who will remain on his current contract if he’s claimed off waivers. If not, he can sign a new contract with any team for as much as they’re willing to pay him.

Regardless of the reasoning, the Rams’ handling of the running back situation has been bizarre all year. From Akers’ displeasure with the team to Henderson’s shocking release, there doesn’t seem to be much of a plan in the backfield.

And by cutting Henderson now, the Rams are somewhat sending a message to the team that they don’t expect to actually contend the rest of the season. Not that Henderson was lighting it up, but he’s been better than Akers, so claiming he was cut for performance reasons doesn’t exactly check out.

Expect McVay to dance around questions about this move when he meets with reporters on Wednesday. He likes to keep things in-house and not air out any grievances, whether it was the Akers situation, Todd Gurley’s knee or his relationship with Jared Goff.

It just seems like the most logical explanation for Henderson’s release is to A) give him a fresh start before free agency and B) give Akers and Williams a longer look in the final seven games.

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Darrell Henderson Jr. sure seems happy about the Rams waiving him

Darrell Henderson Jr. only needed 2 emojis to show how he feels about being released by the Rams

It sure doesn’t seem like Darrell Henderson Jr. is at all bothered by the news he (and everyone else) received on Tuesday. The Los Angeles Rams announced they waived Henderson from the 53-man roster, an unquestionably surprising move.

Shortly after the news was made public, Henderson shared his immediate reaction and he appears to be happy about leaving Los Angeles, the team that drafted him in 2019. He tweeted two emojis to show his excitement, making it very clear how he feels about this move.

He’s undeniably happy to be on the market after a frustrating season with the Rams.

Henderson leads the team with 283 yards rushing this season, averaging a very respectable 4.0 yards per carry. He’s also scored three touchdowns on the ground, which lead the team, as well. No other player has more than one rushing touchdown.

He’s been in a timeshare with Cam Akers and now Kyren Williams, so it’s reasonable to think he was looking for a bigger role in the backfield – which he may now get with another team.

Darrell Henderson Jr. was limited vs. Saints after feeling ‘a little something in his knee’

We have a little clarity as to why Darrell Henderson Jr. only played 4 snaps vs. Saints

Darrell Henderson Jr. got the start at running back for the Rams against the Saints on Sunday and carried the ball twice on the opening drive. Then, he didn’t touch the ball again.

Henderson was limited to two carries and four total snaps played, giving way to Cam Akers and Kyren Williams as the lead backs. It was a questionable decision from Sean McVay considering Henderson started and gained 9 yards on two touches, with no injury being reported.

On Monday, McVay clarified that Henderson “felt a little something in his knee” before the game, which is why he was limited to just four snaps.

McVay didn’t expand beyond that, so it’s unclear what Henderson’s status is for Week 12.

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