Rookie SWOT: Derrick Henry

Coin Flip Posted On May 16, 2016

Editor’s Note: As our coverage of the 2016 NFL Draft and its impact on fantasy football continues, we bring you our 2016 Rookie SWOT series. These articles will feature video highlights, combine reviews, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats, short-term expectations, long-term expectations and rookie draft advice for over 30 of the best dynasty league prospects from this year’s draft. We’ll follow that up with team-by-team draft reviews because, you know, that’s kind of what we live for.

Make sure you’re ready for your dynasty league rookie draft by staying up on all these articles, checking out our rookie draft guide, rookie rankings, rookie draft cheat sheet and mock draft rooms. There are simply no better resources out there for dynasty fantasy football enthusiasts.
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Name: Derrick Henry
Position: Running Back
Pro Team: Tennessee Titans
College Team: Alabama
Draft status: Round 2, Pick 14, No. 45 overall

Combine Review
Height – 6’2″
Weight – 247 pounds
40-yard dash – 4.54
Bench press – 22
Vertical jump – 37″
Broad jump – 130″
3-cone drill – 7.20

Strengths

Derrick Henry was chosen by the Tennessee Titans with the 45^th overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft. Henry has the ability to contribute immediately for the Tennessee Titans who are focused on improving their run game. His physical downhill running style, combined with strong pass blocking protection skills, can help in taking pressure off his quarterback. Henry has an extraordinary second gear of speed that helps him bolt past defenders. Nearly 30 percent of his explosive carries came late in his college games. This aids in his ability to wear down the opponent by the fourth quarter. He has a nose for the end zone which will increase touchdown percentages for the Titans. He can be a bully for short-yardage needs, but also maintains much needed patience in the running game.

Weaknesses

The successful ability Henry carries as a downhill runner has negatively affected his success when on assignment to run east and west plays on the football field. He lacks experience catching passes and runs high, not always behind his pads, where he could push through defenses. Although durability could be a concern, as it has been with most Alabama running backs, he has not shown any up to this point. This is despite carrying the ball nearly 400 times in his final season for the Crimson Tide.

Opportunities

Mike Malarkey, Head Coach of the Tennessee Titans, believes you need to run the ball to be successful in the NFL. He is of the belief that teams who make the playoffs have established running games. Henry is part of this plan. He fits the armor type build needed as a power back on the field to expand the Titans backfield into success. He also is reunited with his lead blocker at Alabama, Jalston Fowler, a fourth-round pick by the Titans in the 2015 NFL draft. He played all sixteen games with the Titans last year and Henry’s trust and familiarity with Fowler could prove profitable for his success.

Threats

The Tennessee Titans happen to have another big name running back on their roster. You may have heard of him: DeMarco Murray. The Pro Bowler is very much a part of the Titans plan to be successful in their running attack. Murray will weaken the chances of Henry being on the field for every play. Henry thrives best when he is fed the football over and over. Other running backs currently slated to carry the rock include Dexter McCluster, Antonio Andrews, David Cobb, Bishop Sankey, and rarely known David Fluellen. Nearly all NFL teams have become more versatile with their running games by spreading the ball around between more than one back.

Expectations

Despite the abundance of carries Murray is slated to be assigned by the Tennessee Titans, Derrick Henry can still be an outstanding contributor in his first year in the NFL. Their running styles can be complimented by one another when using Murray as the receiving threat and Henry as the downhill bruiser. He could easily be used as a solid RB2 on fantasy rosters lacking running back depth. If your fantasy team already has a solid running back core, he will be your favorite flex player all year long. Your fantasy opponents will be terrified seeing him as your flex opportunity. He will be fantasy relevant in 2016 but more so in touchdown heavy leagues without a PPR component.

NFL Comparison

I am not going to pretend I came up with these ideas but I have read he can be compared to Brandon Jacobs and Eddie George. It seems this is mostly due to his physical parallels in size. All three backs were 6’2”- 6’4” and around the same weight (240 plus) range. It is not impossible for Henry to be as successful as Eddie George, but it will be a hard fight to exceed George’s stats due to the NFL not using a one back system very often.

Projected Range in Rookie Drafts

Derrick Henry is the second running back being drafted in most all rookie drafts. He will not outrank Ezekiel Elliott on draft boards, but he likely will maintain his No. 2 RB status for all drafts leading up to the NFL season. Overall his rookie ADP appears to be 1.06-1.08.

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