Very few players have been more reliable than Tennessee Titans RB Derrick Henry in December. The running back seems to thrive in the cold weather, and he was about to demonstrate that once again as he was on his way to an incredible game on Sunday. Henry had 102 rushing yards, 18 receiving yards, and two touchdowns before he had to leave the game.
He left in the fourth quarter after a brutal hit to be checked for a concussion. He entered the blue medical tent and then, shortly after, was seen walking towards the locker room. Henry did not return to the game, and rookie Tyjae Spears took over the backfield.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported after the game that Henry was in concussion protocol. However, things sounded different on Monday. Head coach Mike Vrabel said on Monday that Henry did not enter the protocol and that he felt fine after working out on Monday and was not experiencing any symptoms of a concussion. Can you start him in fantasy football this week?
Will Titans RB Derrick Henry Play This Week?
Whether or not Henry will play this week is tricky. As fantasy managers can see, concussion symptoms can appear and disappear quickly, and there is a fine line between whether a player can avoid the protocol. Concussion symptoms can come on days after the event, so a stop on protocol should not be completely ruled out.
Mike Vrabel told the media on Monday, “He’s not in the protocol as of now, but we will monitor how he’s feeling and any symptoms that may come up, just like we would do with any player. So again, as of now, he’s doing great, and that’s great news for any player.”
If Henry logs a couple of days of practice in a row, the chance of a concussion coming on looks to decrease, and his availability to play in Week 14 against the Miami Dolphins increases. Even if Henry can play on Monday Night Football, it does not guarantee an excellent fantasy outing.
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The Dolphins allow the 10th-fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs, and that, coupled with the fact that we could see Henry on a snap count, makes it so fantasy managers might have to temper their expectations.
What Does This Mean for Henry’s Fantasy Ranking?
Currently, Henry is RB14 in PFN’s Consensus Rankings. If he continues to log practices this week, and we do not hear about him demonstrating any concussion symptoms, this ranking should hold steady. However, if we start to hear that Henry is limited in practice, his fantasy ranking would fall slightly.
Spears is ready and able to take over for Henry if he cannot play, and if you have Henry on your team, I suggest picking up Spears. Spears is a fantastic insurance back if Henry is sidelined, but he has also turned into a startable asset himself. He is RB41 on the season, and he had 88 all-purpose yards on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.
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