Will Derrick Henry fall off this season?
It all begins with an idea.
By: Dharya Sharma
Derrick Henry has arguably been the best running back in the NFL for the past five years. The 29 year old has been the engine of the Titans offense since he took on the full-time starting RB job in 2018. Henry became just the eight player in NFL history to run for 2,000 in a season during the 2020-21 season. Although Henry has been one of the premier backs in football, many believe that his decline is approaching as he will be 30 years old by the time this upcoming season ends. Henry has also led the NFL in carries an astonishing three times in his career. All of these factors would definitely lead someone to believe that the Henry decline is approaching, but I’m here to tell you that Derrick Henry has many productive years left in him….
Henry was drafted by the Titans in second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, and the start of his career didn’t go as planned. Earlier in the 2016 offseason, the Titans traded for RB Demarco Murray to be the starter going into the season, and that remained the same even when Henry got drafted. Henry backed up Murray for two years before Murray was eventually cut from the team in the 2018 offseason. After the move was made, many believed that Henry would finally have the backfield all for himself. That was until the Titans signed RB Dion Lewis to a four year contract after cutting Murray. Lewis and Henry would end up splitting carries for the first half of the 2018 season, with both having nearly identical numbers. It got so bad for Henry in the beginning parts of the 2018 season that the Titans put him on the trade block. No deal ended up happening, and that may have been the best thing to happen to the Titans in a while. Henry continued to improve throughout the season and had his breakthrough game against the Jacksonville Jaguars where he had four rushing TDS and set the NFL record for longest rush. More of the same happened in the 2019 and 2020 seasons for Henry as he broke records and led the Titans on a deep playoff run. He had an injury-riddled 2021 season, but bounced back nicely in 2022. Henry’s rise to being the top back in football was quick, but his fall will be slower than a snail.
Even though it may have been frustrating splitting carries with Murray and Lewis, it was actually a blessing in disguise for King Henry. He would not have been able to handle the amount of carries he has gotten the past couple of years if he was the full-time starter his rookie year. The amount of gas he saved by being a backup was truly great for him in the long run. Henry has also one of the hardest working players in the NFL, and that is going to help prolong his career as well. We’ve all seen the crazy videos of him working out, and that is going to help The King immensely in the marathon he is running. The Titans offensive line was one of the worst in the NFL last year, but they spent draft picks and money to better it. This new and improved Titans O-line will be a great help for Henry now and in the future.
No, Derrick Henry will not fall off this season, and he will reclaim the throne as the undisputed best RB in football!!
Season Stats Prediction: 1800 yards 17 tds 4.8 ypc