Derrick Henry has run for double-digit touchdowns in each of the past five seasons and has been the exception to every rule up to this point. That said, the 29-year-old does have over 2,000 NFL touches on his résumé, and the Tennessee Titans have more options in the passing game than in years past.
Will Henry continue to eat in 2023, or is now the time to fade him at his current price in fantasy football?
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Derrick Henry Fantasy Outlook for the 2023 NFL Season
Logic states that the Titans will continue to run through Henry, but will it be to the level of years past?
DeAndre Hopkins joined Tennessee this summer, giving this squad three pass catchers that are matchup problems. Treylon Burks (first-round pick in 2022) started to make some plays in the second half of his rookie season, while TE Chigoziem Okonkwo is the type of athlete we see succeed at a high level.
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While I don’t think Tyjae Spears (third-round pick) was brought in to push Henry for touches, it is worth noting that the team found it valuable to address the position. He gained over 1,800 yards at Tulane last season and is more than capable of handling some work in an effort to keep Henry upright.
Is Henry a Good Fantasy Pick?
At his current ADP, Henry is a good buy, but still not one I’m excited about. If he falls to the end of the second round, his stable role and the laws of physics make him a good selection.
Yes, some regression is likely, but this man’s mass, combined with his speed, is going to make him a tough tackle until the end of time. I’m still betting on an elite workload, thus making his floor very appealing.
That said, I think my colleagues are a bit too optimistic about Henry this season. At the running back position, Tony Pollard offers more upside and is someone I find myself taking without much thought over Henry.
In Henry’s general ADP tier, receivers are more my target — Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jaylen Waddle are two that I would take over Henry if I drafted my RB1 in Round 1.
- PFN Consensus Rankings: Ninth overall
- ADP: 19th overall