New advanced metrics tracked by Next Gen Stats further shows just how impressive of a season Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry had in 2019.
Of course, Henry led the NFL in rushing yards (1,540) and touchdowns (16) last season, but he was also tops in Rushing Yards Over Expected (314) and Rushing Yards Over Expected per Attempt (1.05).
That led to him landing at No. 1 on a list of running backs who exceeded expectations last season, according to NFL.com’s Nick Shook.
Here’s how Next Gen Stats defines Expected Rushing Yards and Rushing Yards Over Expected:
Expected Rushing Yards (xRY): How many rushing yards is a ball-carrier expected to gain on a given carry based on the relative location, speed and direction of blockers and defenders?
Rushing Yards Over Expected (RYOE): The difference between actual rushing yards and expected rushing yards on an individual play or series of plays.
It really comes as no surprise that Henry ranks so well in these particular metrics thanks to his elite ability to gain yards after contact.
As Pro Football Focus noted, Henry’s 1,268 rushing yards after contact in 2019 were the third-most among backs in a single season since 2006. If we only counted those yards, Henry still would have finished fourth in rushing.
If you include his work in the postseason, Henry totaled 1,605 yards after contact, the most in a season since 2006.
Henry, who is the heart and soul of the Titans’ offense, isn’t your typical back, and it’s why the team decided to give him a four-year, $50 million contract extension a few weeks ago.
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