Fantasy football managers may be asking themselves a question they are not accustomed to in recent years … can you trust Tennessee Titans RB Derrick Henry in your fantasy lineup? Well, an injury to Henry only makes that question more appropriate.
Let’s take a closer look at the latest update on Henry and the potential fantasy fallout from his injury on the Titans offense heading into Week 12.
Editor’s Note (Friday, Nov. 24): Derrick Henry was a full participant on Thursday and Friday. He has been cleared to play against the Carolina Panthers in Week 12.
Latest Injury Update on Derrick Henry
The engine of the Titans offense has run into all kinds of efficiency and game-script issues through the first 10 games of the 2023 NFL season. His 4.2 yards per carry is a career low, and the Tennessee offense ranks 27th in the league with just 16.8 points per game.
Unfortunately, those efficiency issues may not get better for Henry while he is dealing with an ankle injury heading into Week 12. According to a recent report from Jim Wyatt, Henry was not spotted at practice on Wednesday.
However, the team’s injury report did list him as a limited participant for Wednesday’s practice, and he was listed as a full participant for Thursday’s estimated practice according to another recent report from Jim Wyatt.
Will Henry Play This Week?
Admittedly, the practice participation for a veteran player like Henry on a holiday week is a bit of an imprecise tool for pinpointing exactly how significant this ankle injury truly is. However, his upgrade to an estimated full participation on Thursday certainly suggests that the injury isn’t putting his status for Sunday in serious jeopardy.
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The Titans are likely to return to the practice field on Friday, and full participation on his part in the day’s session could give us some real clarity on Henry for Week 12. Fantasy managers should monitor the team’s injury report to see exactly where Henry’s practice participation falls on the team’s final practice of the week.
What Does This Mean for Tyjae Spears’ Fantasy Ranking?
To say Henry is having a bit of a down season in 2023 would be an understatement. He has just two 100-yard rushing performances through the first 10 games of the season.
For some context, Henry topped the century mark on the ground nine times last year and five times in just eight games in 2021.
Henry also has rushed for fewer than 40 yards in two consecutive games, the first time that’s happened since the 2018 season. Equally as concerning is his allotment of 21 carries over the last two games, his fewest over a two-game period since the 2018 season as well.
Henry has four games this year with fewer than 45 yards rushing, which, combined with his lack of a pass-catching floor in PPR formats, has made him a boom-or-bust option at the RB position on a weekly basis.
Despite some of the concerning signs, Henry fantasy managers can be very optimistic heading into the team’s Week 12 matchup against Carolina. The Panthers defense allows the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing RBs in the league (26), which is aided by the 129 rushing yards per game they allow to opposing rushing attacks.
If Henry is able to play on Sunday, he is a fringe RB1 option with a favorable matchup against Carolina. If Henry is unavailable for the game against the Panthers, rookie RB Tyjae Spears instantly becomes a top-15 play at the RB position.
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