Los Angeles Rams running back Darrell Henderson faces an uncertain role with Cam Akers back and seemingly healthy. What is Henderson’s current ADP in fantasy drafts, and should fantasy football managers draft him at that price?
Darrell Henderson ADP | Is he worth his current price in fantasy drafts?
Henderson’s ADP is around 145th overall. He’s being drafted as the RB42 in fantasy drafts. I can’t help but wonder if this will rise between the time I wrote this and the time you read this. Henderson was posting RB1 numbers filling in for Akers last season.
At his ADP, Henderson feels like a low-risk, high-upside pick. There are multiple ways he becomes a fantasy starter beyond an injury to the guy in front of him.
While there’s no guarantee Henderson would be the primary beneficiary of an Akers injury, it seems like the most plausible outcome. The Rams could elect to sign someone else or use a non-Henderson back, but they don’t roster anyone of note. Jake Funk? Kyren Williams? I highly doubt it.
Fantasy managers looking to draft Henderson at his ADP should do so with no expectations. Nevertheless, the upside appears to be worth it.
Darrell Henderson’s projected fantasy value in 2022
Henderson averaged 13.6 PPR fantasy points per game last season. While those numbers look pretty good, we need to dig a little deeper to truly evaluate Henderson’s performance.
Henderson became the primary back following Akers’ summer ACL tear. He maintained this role for the first 12 weeks of the season. Over those weeks, he operated as a true three-down back, playing an average of over 75% of the snaps. As the starter, Henderson averaged 15.7 ppg.
Unfortunately, Henderson got injured in Week 12. As a result, head coach Sean McVay turned to Sony Michel. Since running backs don’t matter, Michel played just as well as Henderson. After Henderson returned from injury, he didn’t get his job back.
Henderson is a capable running back. He averaged a career-high 4.6 yards per carry last season. Henderson also saw his most work as a receiver, running a career-best 22.4 routes per game over the first 12 weeks of the season. 20 of Henderson’s 149 carries went for at least 10 yards. When given the opportunity, he has been a productive fantasy asset.
Impact of the Rams’ depth chart on Henderson’s fantasy value
One day, I hope to understand the Rams’ hatred for Henderson. He’s a good player, but one they’ve tried to bury at every turn. The Rams took Henderson in the early part of the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Surely McVay realized Todd Gurley was completely cooked by that point. Yet, Henderson was given just 43 touches.
Then, in 2020, the Rams immediately looked past Henderson to spend a second-rounder on Akers. Instead of starting Akers, though, they turned to plodding journeyman Malcolm Brown. Anyone but Henderson.
Henderson saw at least 10 carries in seven games that season. He averaged 12.5 ppg in those contests. While Akers was out with an early-season injury, Henderson did see extra work. But when Akers was ready to return, he instantly got his job back. Henderson played an average of just 26% of the snaps over the final eight games of the season.
In 2021, the Rams had no choice. Akers was done for the season. Brown was on another team. They had to use Henderson. And he played well. But the moment Henderson gave them an opportunity to turn to someone else, they did.
Once Michel put together a couple of quality games, the job was his. Then, when Akers made his incredible return ahead of the postseason, the job was given back to him. All of this is to say, even if Henderson finds himself starting at some point this season, he has the weakest job security of any back in the NFL.
Henderson’s depth chart spot hasn’t changed since last season
Entering this season, Akers is fully healthy. He is going to be the starter. There is the potential for Henderson to have more of a role to open the year. He’s been splitting training camp reps with Akers relatively evenly. However, it’s difficult to look past the obvious message the Rams have sent regarding their opinion of Henderson over the past three seasons.
Behind Akers and Henderson are Funk and Williams. It would be a surprise if either handled more than a couple of snaps every week, but, again, see the previous statement regarding the Rams’ feelings toward Henderson.
Ultimately, this offense should look very much like it did in their Super Bowl-winning 2021 campaign. Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp are back. They traded away Robert Woods to the Titans but replaced him with Allen Robinson. This is an upgrade as far as I’m concerned.
If Akers gets hurt or is ineffective, Henderson very well may get an opportunity to be the lead back again. It’s also possible, albeit unlikely, this is a genuine timeshare. If that’s the case, Akers is a terrible pick at his ADP, and Henderson is a fantastic one. We are a bit lower than consensus on Henderson, though, ranking him as our RB52.