I don’t think I’ll be drafting Derrick Henry this year. He’s a super fun player to watch (was there a better run last year than when Henry stiff-armed Josh Norman to the ground?) but I fear running backs who don’t catch passes.
PPR scoring, of course. If we’re going standard scoring or TD-only, it’s a different conversation.
But when it’s the PPR (which is similar to saying, “let’s make receiving production count twice as much”) it’s scary to cast your lot with a running back who’s not really involved in that facet of the game.
Since 2000, there have been 48 running backs who’ve run for at least 1,000 yards but who haven’t caught 20 passes. Only 12 of those backs (a quarter of them) finished the season with top-10 PPR numbers.
Henry, of course, has authored a pair of top-5 seasons the last two years. But for him to do that, you’re counting on him running for 1,700-plus yards and 16-plus touchdowns. That’s tough to do. He’s another year older, and the Titans lost some key players and their offensive coordinator.
1,000-YARD RUSHERS WHO DON'T CATCH PASSES | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Receiving | PPR | Rk |
2020 | •Derrick Henry, Ten. | 378 | 2,027 | 5.4 | 17 | 19-114-0 | 337.1 | 3 |
2020 | Nick Chubb, Cle. | 190 | 1,067 | 5.6 | 12 | 16-150-0 | 209.7 | 11 |
2019 | •Derrick Henry, Ten. | 303 | 1,540 | 5.1 | 16 | 18-206-2 | 300.6 | 5 |
2019 | Marlon Mack, Ind. | 247 | 1,091 | 4.4 | 8 | 14-82-0 | 181.3 | 23 |
2019 | Carlos Hyde, Hou. | 245 | 1,070 | 4.4 | 6 | 10-42-0 | 157.2 | 28 |
2018 | Derrick Henry, Ten. | 215 | 1,059 | 4.9 | 12 | 15-99-0 | 203.5 | 16 |
2016 | •LeGarrette Blount, N.E. | 299 | 1,161 | 3.9 | 18 | 7-38-0 | 234.9 | 9 |
2014 | Alfred Morris, Was. | 265 | 1,074 | 4.1 | 8 | 17-155-0 | 187.9 | 17 |
2014 | Frank Gore, S.F. | 255 | 1,106 | 4.3 | 4 | 11-111-1 | 162.7 | 21 |
2013 | Frank Gore, S.F. | 276 | 1,128 | 4.1 | 9 | 16-141-0 | 196.9 | 18 |
2013 | Alfred Morris, Was. | 276 | 1,275 | 4.6 | 7 | 9-78-0 | 186.3 | 20 |
2012 | •Alfred Morris, Was. | 335 | 1,613 | 4.8 | 13 | 11-77-0 | 258.0 | 7 |
2012 | Stevan Ridley, N.E. | 290 | 1,263 | 4.4 | 12 | 6-51-0 | 209.4 | 15 |
2012 | Shonn Greene, NYJ | 276 | 1,063 | 3.9 | 8 | 19-151-0 | 188.4 | 19 |
2011 | •Michael Turner, Atl. | 301 | 1,340 | 4.5 | 11 | 17-168-0 | 233.8 | 8 |
2011 | Frank Gore, S.F. | 282 | 1,211 | 4.3 | 8 | 17-114-0 | 197.5 | 17 |
2011 | Beanie Wells, Ariz. | 245 | 1,047 | 4.3 | 10 | 10-52-0 | 179.9 | 23 |
2011 | Willis McGahee, Den. | 249 | 1,199 | 4.8 | 4 | 12-51-1 | 169.0 | 24 |
2011 | Cedric Benson, Cin. | 273 | 1,067 | 3.9 | 6 | 15-82-0 | 165.9 | 26 |
2010 | Michael Turner, Atl. | 334 | 1,371 | 4.1 | 12 | 12-85-0 | 229.6 | 14 |
2010 | BenJarvus Green-Ellis, N.E. | 229 | 1,008 | 4.4 | 13 | 12-85-0 | 199.3 | 19 |
2010 | LeGarrette Blount, T.B. | 201 | 1,007 | 5.0 | 6 | 5-14-0 | 143.1 | 34 |
2009 | •Thomas Jones, NYJ | 331 | 1,402 | 4.2 | 14 | 10-58-0 | 240.0 | 9 |
2009 | Jonathan Stewart, Car. | 221 | 1,133 | 5.1 | 10 | 18-139-1 | 211.2 | 15 |
2009 | Cedric Benson, Cin. | 301 | 1,251 | 4.2 | 6 | 17-111-0 | 189.2 | 20 |
2008 | •Michael Turner, Atl. | 376 | 1,699 | 4.5 | 17 | 6-41-0 | 282.0 | 4 |
2008 | Brandon Jacobs, NYG | 219 | 1,089 | 5.0 | 15 | 6-36-0 | 208.5 | 18 |
2008 | Ryan Grant, G.B. | 312 | 1,203 | 3.9 | 4 | 18-116-1 | 179.9 | 26 |
2007 | •Adrian Peterson, Min. | 238 | 1,341 | 5.6 | 12 | 19-268-1 | 257.9 | 5 |
2007 | Marshawn Lynch, Buff. | 280 | 1,115 | 4.0 | 7 | 18-184-0 | 196.3 | 16 |
2007 | Fred Taylor, Jac. | 223 | 1,202 | 5.4 | 5 | 9-58-0 | 165.0 | 26 |
2006 | Jamal Lewis, Balt. | 314 | 1,132 | 3.6 | 9 | 18-115-0 | 196.7 | 21 |
2006 | Travis Henry, Ten. | 270 | 1,211 | 4.5 | 7 | 18-78-0 | 190.9 | 23 |
2006 | Julius Jones, Dall. | 267 | 1,084 | 4.1 | 4 | 9-142-0 | 155.6 | 29 |
2005 | •Shaun Alexander, Sea. | 370 | 1,880 | 5.1 | 27 | 15-78-1 | 378.8 | 1 |
2005 | Mike Anderson, Den. | 239 | 1,014 | 4.2 | 12 | 18-212-1 | 218.6 | 12 |
2005 | Willie Parker, Pitt. | 255 | 1,202 | 4.7 | 4 | 18-218-1 | 190.0 | 18 |
2004 | •Corey Dillon, N.E. | 345 | 1,635 | 4.7 | 12 | 15-103-1 | 268.8 | 8 |
2004 | •Rudi Johnson, Cin. | 361 | 1,454 | 4.0 | 12 | 15-84-0 | 240.8 | 10 |
2004 | Jamal Lewis, Balt. | 235 | 1,006 | 4.3 | 7 | 10-116-0 | 164.2 | 28 |
2003 | Stephen Davis, Car. | 318 | 1,444 | 4.5 | 8 | 14-159-0 | 222.3 | 15 |
2003 | Anthony Thomas, Chi. | 244 | 1,024 | 4.2 | 6 | 9-36-0 | 151.0 | 31 |
2001 | •Antowain Smith, N.E. | 287 | 1,157 | 4.0 | 12 | 19-192-1 | 231.9 | 10 |
2001 | Jerome Bettis, Pitt. | 225 | 1,072 | 4.8 | 4 | 8-48-0 | 149.6 | 26 |
2001 | Emmitt Smith, Dall. | 261 | 1,021 | 3.9 | 3 | 17-116-0 | 148.7 | 27 |
2000 | Corey Dillon, Cin. | 315 | 1,435 | 4.6 | 7 | 18-158-0 | 219.3 | 20 |
2000 | Jerome Bettis, Pitt. | 355 | 1,341 | 3.8 | 8 | 13-97-0 | 204.8 | 22 |
2000 | Emmitt Smith, Dall. | 294 | 1,203 | 4.1 | 9 | 11-79-0 | 193.2 | 25 |
—Ian Allan