1. Derrick Henry, Tennessee Titans
In 2019, Henry faced a series of defenses out to get him at all times, at all costs, and he responded in historic fashion. Including the postseason, 1,605 of Henry’s 1.918 rushing yards came after contact. Not only did that mark the most yards after contact in a season since at least 2006, per Pro Football Focus’ database, it’s the only time in that span (which is as far as PFF’s public database goes at this point) that the NFL’s rushing leader had more yards after contact than any other back had total rushing yards — Cleveland’s Nick Chubb finished second in total rushing yards with 1,494. And Henry did all of this while facing boxes of eight or more defenders on a league-leading 45.2% of his snaps, per Sports Info Solutions.
From the Department of Insane Statistics: In 2019, Derrick Henry had more yards after contact (1,605) than any other back had total rushing yards. Per @PFF, Henry's the only guy to do that since at least 2006. pic.twitter.com/C2GITfhHK1
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) July 26, 2020
Not only did Henry produce at a level that most other backs would find impossible to replicate over a full season, he was the epicenter of a Titans offense that saw the professional rebirth of quarterback Ryan Tannehill, and though rushing success and play-action success are not always as aligned as you may think, you can bet defenders were slow to draw away from Henry on any Tannehill play-fake. Whether it was Tannehill or Marcus Mariota, Tennessee’s quarterbacks threw 14 touchdowns to just two interceptions when using play-action, and that wouldn’t have happened to the extent it did without Henry’s presence.
Play-action success is not always tied to rushing success, but let's just say that Titans opponents were eager to check Derrick Henry on handoff looks, fake or not. pic.twitter.com/C2YbAEuuNZ
— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) July 27, 2020
Henry turned 26 in January, and the Titans signed him to a four-year, $50 million contract extension in mid-July. Contact-based runners tend to have short lifespans, but as long as he can stay healthy, Henry should be one of the league’s predominant forces at his — or any — position. Regardless of his future, Henry performed at an all-time level in 2019, and that’s why he tops our list of running backs.