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Let's talk about Darrell Henderson!
A THREAD
Many thought 2nd round pick Cam Akers would relegate Darrell Henderson to the pine.
Yet entering week Hendo is the RB20 and leads his backfield in yards, Y/A, and PPG.
Can we trust him moving forward? Or is he a trap? Let's see!
A THREAD
Many thought 2nd round pick Cam Akers would relegate Darrell Henderson to the pine.
Yet entering week Hendo is the RB20 and leads his backfield in yards, Y/A, and PPG.
Can we trust him moving forward? Or is he a trap? Let's see!
Drafted in the 3rd round out of Memphis last year, Hendo has excellent speed, decent size, and some very nice college production, including a 78th% Dominator and a 98th% YPC. Many saw him as a Gurley replacement, but he failed to gain traction in '19. https://www.playerprofiler.com/nfl/darrell-henderson/
Following injuries to Brown and Akers, Henderson has been thrust into the lead role and performed admirably.
He's excelled in several advanced metrics:
True YPC: 5.3 (9th)
YPT: 6.5 (8th)
DYAR: 79 (2nd)
DVOA: 40% (1st)
Success rate: 66% (3rd)
YC/ATT: 1.37 (23rd)
He's excelled in several advanced metrics:
True YPC: 5.3 (9th)
YPT: 6.5 (8th)
DYAR: 79 (2nd)
DVOA: 40% (1st)
Success rate: 66% (3rd)
YC/ATT: 1.37 (23rd)
Let's grind some film.
Here's a nice outside run v. BUF. The line is blocking well, but his speed lets him take the edge, and he adds value with his physical play, stiff arming the weak arm tackle and trucking the corner
Here's a nice outside run v. BUF. The line is blocking well, but his speed lets him take the edge, and he adds value with his physical play, stiff arming the weak arm tackle and trucking the corner
I hadn't thought of Hendo as a between-the-tackles grinder but he is excelling in that role. He hits the hole hard, particularly out of shotgun, and seeks out contact, lowering the boom for extra yards. He does this consistently.
McVay is calling to Hendo's strength, running him from the gun. He takes a few steps to get up to his top speed, but maintains it while making adjustments. He's not extraordinarily agile but his crafty adjustments force poor angles and make him hard to tackle
Here's another example of that. He may not break ankles and dust defenders like Kamara or Barkley, but he runs smart and consistently gets what is a blocked and then a few yards more.
The Rams love these little flat routes from play-action.
Henderson offers plenty in the passing game and enough rushing threat to keep defenses honest and play-action clicking.
Henderson offers plenty in the passing game and enough rushing threat to keep defenses honest and play-action clicking.
Henderson's speed, aggressiveness, and no-nonsense style are a great fit for the schemes McVay is calling. He struggled with zone concepts last year but has improved, and he excels at gap / power concepts like this play at BUF. (I'm no blocking guru, feel free to add context!)
Here's another long run from the gun. He shows some really nice change-of-direction ability and vision here, reading the leverage correctly and making that adjustment at speed to create this gain.
The LAR line is playing very well. FO has them as the #3 unit so far for 2020.
But even when defenders are in the backfield, Henderson helps prevent negative plays, using his speed and sharp angles to remain elusive.
But even when defenders are in the backfield, Henderson helps prevent negative plays, using his speed and sharp angles to remain elusive.
These same traits make him effective at the goalline. He's not running guys over, but he only needs a tiny crease to get in, and he's showing nice chemistry with the line, trusting his guys to create the gap, adjusting when he needs to.
This one ultimately is called short but I love the fight for yardage- he's hit at the three and powers his way to the paint.
Jones (while a very different runner) has shown us you don't need to be 225 to be a GL back. Hendo's not at that level, but he's effective.
Jones (while a very different runner) has shown us you don't need to be 225 to be a GL back. Hendo's not at that level, but he's effective.
He still gets caught. Again, he's not Saquan, he's no miracle worker. But coaches will always love the guy that takes what's there and fights to extend the play, and Henderson is doing that well.
So what to do with Henderson in FF? Can he hold off Akers?
I watched all Akers' carries this year, and he is a talented dude as well. I think he will be good.
But, right now, in October 2020, Henderson is the more polished back, and McVay is using him well.
I watched all Akers' carries this year, and he is a talented dude as well. I think he will be good.
But, right now, in October 2020, Henderson is the more polished back, and McVay is using him well.
The best news for both is that the Rams lead the league in Rush Plays/Game at 37. That's plenty of work to keep both backs relevant.
CLE has proven to us that a run-first team with a good line can sustain two RB2s.
Do we trust Stefanski more than McVay?
CLE has proven to us that a run-first team with a good line can sustain two RB2s.
Do we trust Stefanski more than McVay?
If I can get a deal in dynasty from someone that thinks Akers will steal Henderson's job in a few weeks, I'm taking it. I want him on my team.
He's not going to see 20+ touches every week, but in week 2, he scored 20 PPR points on 14 touches.
What is unsustainable there?
He's not going to see 20+ touches every week, but in week 2, he scored 20 PPR points on 14 touches.
What is unsustainable there?
In redraft, he's a nice trade target for the same reason. The spectre of Akers might depress his trade value, but Akers is a rookie and he's injured. He didn't practice this week. Henderson has gained ground; he can solidify his role as the RB1 with another strong game
Go get him.
In dynasty, he's worth at least a high 2nd or even a late 1st to a contender.
On a good team where I'm RB-needy I traded Akers for him straight up.
Akers might win out in the long run, but he might not, and I strongly doubt he supplants Hendo in 2020.
Let's go!
In dynasty, he's worth at least a high 2nd or even a late 1st to a contender.
On a good team where I'm RB-needy I traded Akers for him straight up.
Akers might win out in the long run, but he might not, and I strongly doubt he supplants Hendo in 2020.
Let's go!
