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Factoid

Playoff runners

Henry's postseason run underscores importance of waiting on running backs

Derrick Henry is having a big postseason, with 182 yards at Foxborough, and 195 yards on Saturday against the Ravens. Coming into the league in 2016, however, Henry wasn’t a first-round draft pick. And that’s been true of most of the big-time running backs in the playoffs in the last 20 years.

Since 2000, a running back has run for 140-plus yards 28 times in playoff games. Only two of those running backs were guys that those teams selected in the first round. Felix Jones for the Cowboys in the 2009 season, and Deuce McAllister for New Orleans in 2006.

Five other such games were authored by backs selected by running backs chosen in the first round, but those games came after those running backs switched to different teams – Marshall Faulk, Marshawn Lynch (twice), Cedric Benson and Warrick Dunn.

Using a first-round pick on a running back hasn’t been a great formula for NFL teams.

RUNNING BACKS WITH 140 YARDS IN PLAYOFF GAMES
YearPlayerOppScoreAttYardsAvgTD
2000Lamar Smith, Mia.Ind.W 23-17402095.22
2007Ryan Grant, G.B.Sea.W 42-20272017.43
2019Derrick Henry, Ten.at Balt.W 28-12301956.50
2019Derrick Henry, Ten.at N.E.W 20-13341825.41
2003Priest Holmes, K.C.Ind.L 31-38241767.32
2016LeVeon Bell, Pitt.at K.C.W 18-16301705.70
2009•Cedric Benson, Cin.NYJL 14-24211698.11
2016LeVeon Bell, Pitt.Mia.W 30-12291675.82
2013LeGarrette Blount, N.E.Ind.W 43-22241666.94
2016Thomas Rawls, Sea.Det.W 26-6271616.01
2009Ray Rice, Balt.at N.E.W 33-14221597.22
2001•Marshall Faulk, St.L.Phil.W 29-24311595.12
2001Charlie Garner, Oak.NYJW 38-241515810.51
2014•Marshawn Lynch, Sea.G.B.W 28-22251576.31
2017Derrick Henry, Ten.at K.C.W 22-21231566.81
2003Ahman Green, G.B.at Phil.L 17-20251566.20
2011Arian Foster, Hou.Cin.W 31-10241536.42
2005DeShaun Foster, Car.at NYGW 23-0271515.60
2018Marlon Mack, Ind.at Hou.W 21-7241486.21
2014LeGarrette Blount, N.E.Ind.W 45-7301484.93
2009Felix Jones, Dall.Phil.W 34-14161489.31
2008Willie Parker, Pitt.S.D.W 35-24271465.42
2004Corey Dillon, N.E.Ind.W 20-3231446.30
2006Deuce McAllister, N.O.Phil.W 27-24211436.81
2004•Warrick Dunn, Atl.St.L.W 47-17171428.42
2006Brian Westbrook, Phil.NYGW 23-20201417.11
2012Arian Foster, Hou.Cin.W 19-13321404.41
2013•Marshawn Lynch, Sea.N.O.W 23-15281405.02

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index