Around the NFL

June 10, 2019

Derrick Henry

Big back gunning for a big year

If you like contract-year players, Derrick Henry could be a back for you. He closed last year on a tear, running for 585 yards and 7 TDs in his final four games, and he’s entering the final year of his rookie contract.

Henry hasn’t signed an extension yet. That could happened before the season starts (or, in theory, during the season). If he’s upset about not having received an extension yet, he’s not showing it publicly. He’s been at the offseason workouts.

Henry isn’t saying whether he’s been pushing for an extension, or whether the team is talking to him. “It’s football,” Henry said in an article on the team’s website. “I fell in love with it before the money. I love football.”

Tennessee went with a tag-team backfield for most of last season, with Henry and Dion Lewis sharing time. That changed in December, when they elevated Henry into more of a bell-cow role. And that’s how they’re expected to use them in 2019 (with Lewis as more of a third-down back).

Henry should finish among the rushing leaders. In my opinion, he’s very much in the running to lead the league in rushing yards.

Working against Henry is his limited receiving ability. He’s caught only 39 passes in his first 47 games as a pro. I don’t think he’ll catch more than 25 passes, and even that might be overly optimistic.

If a running back doesn’t catch many passes, it’s hard for him to put up franchise-type numbers, particularly in a PPR format. In this century (19 seasons) only 35 running backs have put up top-20 PPR numbers while catching no more than 20 passes. Those backs are listed below. Only 10 of those backs finished with top-10 numbers (and they’re tagged with black dots).

On average, these backs tended to rank about 3 spots higher in standard scoring.

On this chart, you’re looking at catches, receiving yards, rushing yards, total yards and touchdowns. The last two numbers indicate the players rank (in that season) in standard scoring (Std) and PPR.

GOOD PPR BACKS WHO DIDN'T CATCH MORE THAN 20 PASSES
Year	Player	No	Rec	Run	Total	TD	Std	PPR
2000	Corey Dillon, Cin.	18	158	1,435	1,593	7	17	20
2001	• Antowain Smith, N.E.	19	192	1,157	1,349	13	9	10
2003	Stephen Davis, Car.	14	159	1,444	1,603	8	12	15
2004	• Corey Dillon, N.E.	15	103	1,635	1,738	13	7	8
2004	• Rudi Johnson, Cin.	15	84	1,454	1,538	12	8	10
2004	Priest Holmes, K.C.	19	187	892	1,079	15	12	18
2005	• Shaun Alexander, Sea.	15	78	1,880	1,958	28	1	1
2005	Mike Anderson, Den.	18	212	1,014	1,226	13	10	12
2005	Willie Parker, Pitt.	18	218	1,202	1,420	5	15	18
2007	• Adrian Peterson, Minn.	19	268	1,341	1,609	13	3	5
2007	Marshawn Lynch, Buff.	18	184	1,115	1,299	7	12	16
2007	LenDale White, Tenn.	20	114	1,110	1,224	7	15	18
2008	• Michael Turner, Atl.	6	41	1,699	1,740	17	2	4
2008	Brandon Jacobs, NYG	6	36	1,089	1,125	15	12	18
2009	• Thomas Jones, Chi.	10	58	1,402	1,460	14	6	9
2009	Jonathan Stewart, Car.	18	139	1,133	1,272	11	12	15
2009	Cedric Benson, Cin.	17	111	1,251	1,362	6	15	20
2010	Michael Turner, Atl.	12	85	1,371	1,456	12	9	14
2010	BenJarvus Green-Ellis, N.E.	12	85	1,008	1,093	13	15	19
2011	• Michael Turner, Atl.	17	168	1,340	1,508	11	6	8
2011	Adrian Peterson, Minn.	18	139	970	1,109	13	9	15
2011	Frank Gore, S.F.	17	114	1,211	1,325	8	12	17
2012	• Alfred Morris, Wash.	11	77	1,613	1,690	13	5	7
2012	Stevan Ridley, N.E.	6	51	1,263	1,314	12	11	15
2012	Shonn Greene, NYJ	19	151	1,063	1,214	8	15	19
2013	Frank Gore, S.F.	16	141	1,128	1,269	9	13	18
2013	Alfred Morris, Wash.	9	78	1,275	1,353	7	14	20
2014	Alfred Morris, Wash.	17	155	1,074	1,229	8	13	17
2015	Jeremy Hill, Cin.	15	79	794	873	12	14	20
2016	• LeGarrette Blount, N.E.	7	38	1,161	1,199	18	7	9
2018	Chris Carson, Sea.	20	163	1,151	1,314	9	14	15
2018	Derrick Henry, Ten.	15	99	1,059	1,158	12	12	16
2018	Nick Chubb, Cle.	20	149	996	1,145	10	15	17
2018	Adrian Peterson, Was.	20	208	1,042	1,250	8	16	19
2018	Marlon Mack, Ind.	17	103	908	1,011	10	18	20

—Ian Allan

Derrick Henry

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