Tennessee Titans - Fantasy News

Derrick Henry 2017 Fantasy Projections

by Tom Joyce

8/11/17

NFL

Tennessee Titans

Derrick Henry

Derrick Henry was selected by the Tennessee Titans in the second round of last year’s NFL Draft and immediately established himself as a dependable player and a potential breakout candidate for 2017.

If he is needed to fill in as his team’s No. 1 running back, then it could be an excellent year for the former Heisman Trophy winner. If not, then he should be productive for his team but could be a risky proposition in fantasy football circles.

Why Derrick Henry Will Be A 2017 Fantasy Football Sleeper

Clearly, the Titans see a lot in Henry. After all, they gave the rookie 110 carries when they already had one of the best running backs, DeMarco Murray, on their roster. Not only did he receive the chances, but Henry excelled when given the opportunity. He ran for 490 yards (4.5 yards per carry) and five touchdowns. His performance gave him 6.61 Dober Fantasy Points per contest.

During OTAs, Henry’s athleticism impressed the coaching staff. Coming off of a strong rookie year, it is realistic to expect him to see more playing time. He could also end up being the Titans’ go-to running back, as Murray underwent offseason finger surgery and battled a foot injury last year. Since Murray is a veteran who has taken several big hits throughout his career, there is a chance he breaks down. If he is hurting, the Titans have another capable running back waiting behind him in Henry.

When Murray was ineffective in Week 17 last year, Henry became the team’s primary running back, rushing for 65 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. At that rate, he would run for over 1,000 yards over the course of a full season.

While he was not targeted much for passes in 2016, there is a chance Henry’s prowess in a limited sampling could lead to more touches for him. As a rookie, he caught 13 of the 15 balls intended for him, which is an 86.7 percent catch rate. Maybe that number is enough for the Titans to go out and try to involve him more in their passing game.

Why Derrick Henry Will Be A 2017 Fantasy Football Dud

The truth is, Murray is still the team’s go-to running back, and the Titans have made that clear over the offseason. If all goes according to their plan, then Henry will be used—but not in a major capacity. After all, the guy he is stuck behind on the depth chart ran for nearly 1,300 yards last season. That’s not a favorable situation for a young player.

Henry’s only value this season might come from strictly running the ball. Despite playing in 15 games last year, Henry was targeted just 15 times for passes. That may be an indication that the team doesn’t consider him a major part of its throwing game. Meanwhile, Murray is good for about 50 receptions per year.

Additionally, Henry did not notify his team that he would be absent from voluntary workouts in April, so that may have been a missed opportunity for him to further implement himself into his team’s offense.