The Baltimore Ravens have been snake-bitten at the running back position over the past several seasons. Year after year, they have seen their starting runner go down with injuries. We have all routinely wondered how dangerous the Ravens would be if they could have a dominant back-to-work with MVP Lamar Jackson. In 2024, we will finally have the answer to that question. The Ravens have reached a two-year deal with former Titans great Derrick Henry. The former 2,000-yard rusher has been one of the best running backs in the league throughout his career. Let’s examine Henry and what he brings to the Ravens offense.
Free-agent Derrick Henry is signing a two-year, $16 million deal worth up to $20 million, including $9 million fully guaranteed in the first year with the Baltimore Ravens, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/jYiY9118kR
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2024
Background
By this point, we all know who Derrick Henry is. The former Heisman Trophy winner has been one of the top running backs on every level he has ever competed. Henry was such a dominant high school prospect at Yulee High School that schools refused to play against Yulee while he was in the backfield. He had what amounts to the greatest season ever for a running back. In his last season, he had a 462/4,261/55 rushing line.
Henry would go on to a similar level of success at the college level. He was the engine that powered the Alabama Crimson Tide to the 2015 CFB National Championship. In his last season, he won every award that he could, including the Maxwell, Doak Walker, Walter Camp, and Heisman Trophies. He was also a unanimous first-team All-American and SEC selection. He saved his best for last at Tuscaloosa, running for 395/2,219/28.
Titans
When Derrick Henry first arrived in Tennessee, he was forced to play behind former Pro Bowl running back DeMarco Murray. This gave him some time to rest his body after some heavy work in high school and college. Despite playing Robin in the Titans tandem, he flashed his immense potential in those early backup seasons.
Once the Titans handed the reins to Henry, he took the ball and never looked back. He has been a multiple-time rushing champion. Henry has also led the league in carries four times, including in 2022 & 2023. Henry has never run for fewer than 4.2 ypc. in a season. In short, Henry has been the very definition of a bell cow true RB1. He is exactly what the Ravens have been looking for.
| Games | Rushing | Receiving | Total Yds | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Age | Tm | Pos | No. | G | GS | Att | Yds | TD | 1D | Succ% | Lng | Y/A | Y/G | A/G | Tgt | Rec | Yds | Y/R | TD | 1D | Succ% | Lng | R/G | Y/G | Ctch% | Y/Tgt | Touch | Y/Tch | YScm | RRTD | Fmb | AV | Awards |
| 2016 | 22 | TEN | RB | 22 | 15 | 2 | 110 | 490 | 5 | 29 | 54.5 | 22 | 4.5 | 32.7 | 7.3 | 15 | 13 | 137 | 10.5 | 0 | 5 | 46.7 | 29 | 0.9 | 9.1 | 86.7% | 9.1 | 123 | 5.1 | 627 | 5 | 0 | 4 | |
| 2017 | 23 | TEN | RB | 22 | 16 | 2 | 176 | 744 | 5 | 40 | 45.5 | 75 | 4.2 | 46.5 | 11.0 | 17 | 11 | 136 | 12.4 | 1 | 4 | 41.2 | 66 | 0.7 | 8.5 | 64.7% | 8.0 | 187 | 4.7 | 880 | 6 | 1 | 6 | |
| 2018 | 24 | TEN | RB | 22 | 16 | 12 | 215 | 1059 | 12 | 50 | 50.2 | 99 | 4.9 | 66.2 | 13.4 | 18 | 15 | 99 | 6.6 | 0 | 4 | 44.4 | 21 | 0.9 | 6.2 | 83.3% | 5.5 | 230 | 5.0 | 1158 | 12 | 1 | 7 | |
| 2019* | 25 | TEN | RB | 22 | 15 | 15 | 303 | 1540 | 16 | 73 | 49.2 | 74 | 5.1 | 102.7 | 20.2 | 24 | 18 | 206 | 11.4 | 2 | 4 | 50.0 | 75 | 1.2 | 13.7 | 75.0% | 8.6 | 321 | 5.4 | 1746 | 18 | 5 | 13 | AP2, PB |
| 2020*+ | 26 | TEN | RB | 22 | 16 | 16 | 378 | 2027 | 17 | 98 | 56.6 | 94 | 5.4 | 126.7 | 23.6 | 31 | 19 | 114 | 6.0 | 0 | 4 | 32.3 | 53 | 1.2 | 7.1 | 61.3% | 3.7 | 397 | 5.4 | 2141 | 17 | 3 | 16 | AP OPoY-1, AP1, PB |
| 2021 | 27 | TEN | RB | 22 | 8 | 8 | 219 | 937 | 10 | 49 | 44.7 | 76 | 4.3 | 117.1 | 27.4 | 20 | 18 | 154 | 8.6 | 0 | 7 | 80.0 | 16 | 2.3 | 19.3 | 90.0% | 7.7 | 237 | 4.6 | 1091 | 10 | 1 | 7 | |
| 2022* | 28 | TEN | RB | 22 | 16 | 16 | 349 | 1538 | 13 | 65 | 46.7 | 56 | 4.4 | 96.1 | 21.8 | 41 | 33 | 398 | 12.1 | 0 | 11 | 61.0 | 69 | 2.1 | 24.9 | 80.5% | 9.7 | 382 | 5.1 | 1936 | 13 | 6 | 11 | AP MVP-9, AP OPoY-12, AP CPoY-9, PB |
| 2023* | 29 | TEN | RB | 22 | 17 | 17 | 280 | 1167 | 12 | 63 | 46.1 | 69 | 4.2 | 68.6 | 16.5 | 36 | 28 | 214 | 7.6 | 0 | 7 | 44.4 | 46 | 1.6 | 12.6 | 77.8% | 5.9 | 308 | 4.5 | 1381 | 12 | 0 | 9 | PB |
| Career | 119 | 88 | 2030 | 9502 | 90 | 467 | 49.3 | 99 | 4.7 | 79.8 | 17.1 | 202 | 155 | 1458 | 9.4 | 3 | 46 | 50.0 | 75 | 1.3 | 12.3 | 76.7% | 7.2 | 2185 | 5.0 | 10960 | 93 | 17 | 73 | |||||
Ravens
In Baltimore, Derrick Henry will slot in as the workhorse RB1. The team has moved on from former second-round pick J.K. Dobbins and bruiser Gus Edwards. Henry profiles as a significant upgrade over Edwards as the primary big back in Baltimore. This role has helped Gus produce over 700 yards in every healthy season. The Raven’s running scheme will be a perfect fit for Henry.
The Ravens will be able to employ Derrick Henry in the read option game paired with MVP QB Lamar Jackson. Henry hasn’t had many opportunities to work in that system. However, the small snippets we have seen leave your mouth watering about the coming fit in Baltimore. Lamar Jackson will hold the defenders and create lanes Henry has only dreamed of.
Derrick Henry on read options in 2022: 11 carries, 155 yards, 2 touchdowns (via @SportsInfo_SIS)
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) March 12, 2024
The read option production wasn't there in 2023, but not hard to imagine a fit in Baltimore next to Lamar Jackson. pic.twitter.com/45GWIiSiQI
Even at this stage of his career, Derrick Henry is a rare type of runner. He has unmatched size and still has enough speed to rip off chunk plays. Last year, despite playing with a rookie quarterback on a struggling team, he was still second in the NFL in rushing.
“Derrick Henry is washed”
— Outl✭w (@OutlawCowboyNFL) March 9, 2024
A 2023 Season 🧵🪡 pic.twitter.com/QBZq2C6SJJ
When digging into Henry’s progression as a player, I noticed he had developed a little as a receiver. Not many people seem to talk about it, but Henry has actually had his best two seasons as a pass catcher over the last two years. Lamar Jackson has never been a big dump-off quarterback, but Henry will be more than capable of staying on the field for third down if the situation calls for it.
This Derrick Henry catch in slo-mo 😍 pic.twitter.com/nk0OZmaYM4
— NFL UK (@NFLUK) December 12, 2023
Dynasty Outlook
Derrick Henry will be the perfect win-now running back for dynasty managers. Henry’s advanced age, 30, for a running back, will keep his cost in check. Baltimore will be the best team he has played on in some time. Lamar Jackson will most likely vulture some rushing touchdowns from Henry, but he will significantly boost his running efficiency. Dynasty managers can get an RB1 at RB2 prices with King Henry. Father time is certainly undefeated, but Henry heard he was coming and is more than up for the fight, looking at recent images of his workout routine.
The latest workout video of new Ravens RB Derrick Henry😳😳 pic.twitter.com/6Zq5uJMu27
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) March 12, 2024
Final Thoughts
Provided he stays healthy, Derrick Henry will represent the best value play in dynasty. At a position where players are viewed in #2-3 year windows, it is strange to say, but Henry offers one last #2 year window in his 30s. Look for him to run wild in Baltimore. I expect numbers that mirror another Alabama Heisman Trophy-winning running back, Mark Ingram. Do yourself a favor; grab some shares of Derrick Henry and enjoy his swan song if you are trying to win. I can tell you for a fact that local Baltimore sports radio is buzzing for the arrival of the King.
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