Cam Akers Suffers Torn Achilles, Darrell Henderson 2021 Fantasy Outlook Shoots to Moon

DARRELL HENDERSON SZN: UPDATED 2021 PROJECTIONS & OUTLOOK

After walking the fine line towards “bust” through two seasons, Darrell Henderson will have every opportunity to prove he belongs in 2021. The third-year back should be an every-down workhorse and has been viable as a starter; in his first eight games of the 2020 NFL season, Henderson was PFF’s highest-rated running back in the league. He still split carries with Akers and Malcolm Brown, but proved he can play on all three downs.

In fact, in games with over 12 carries last season, Henderson averaged over 14 fantasy points per game. This would have ranked him as the RB16 (min 10 GP), just below Ezekiel Elliott, Antonio Gibson, and D’Andre Swift, and just ahead of Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Miles Sanders.

After trading up to draft Henderson in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Sean McVay and GM Les Snead labeled the explosive rookie a mere “change of pace back.” However, Snead went on to compare the former Memphis monster to Alvin Kamara. “The Memphis guy does give you a Kamara element. I won’t get off of that, won’t say it, we’ll play against him and you’ll feel it,” Snead said.

Additionally, back when the Rams drafted Henderson in 2019, Adam Schefter raved about McVay’s love for the explosive Memphis product (including on our very-own Fantasy Fullback Dive Podcast):

As well as on his own show:

A note from Schefty: "Darrell Henderson, third round pick 70th overall, running back from Memphis, here's a guy that I believe Sean McVay thought was THE most dangerous offensive player in the draft…That's right. [The Rams] LOVE Darrell Henderson." https://t.co/2sZ9yvAn35

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 3, 2019

A slow start to his career in 2019 led to Henderson producing next-to-nothing as a rookie, but he averaged 4.5 yards per carry and finished 2020 with 783 total yards and six touchdowns.

With names such as Xavier Jones, Jake Funk, and Raymond Calais rounding out the running back depth chart, Henderson will be called upon to be the guy right away. Jones and Funk make intriguing deep dynasty stashes to see how everything shakes out, and could see their stock rise as summer develops. Still, Henderson faces zero competition for true RB1 duties.

That is until the Rams inevitably add a player or two off the streets to provide veteran competition to Henderson.

Among the veteran running backs available on the free-agent market: Todd Gurley, Le’Veon Bell, Duke Johnson, Adrian Peterson, Devonta Freeman, LeSean McCoy, Frank Gore, Dion Lewis, Chris Thompson, TJ Yeldon, and Deandre Washington. 

A Gurley reunion could happen and Bell could provide a little spark if McVay trusts him enough to not destroy his locker room. Then there will also be a handful of cuts during training camp, such as Sony Michel, Mark Ingram, and Benny Snell.

Still, Henderson should be given every opportunity to spearhead this backfield and should garner 55-60% of the touches, regardless of who’s added. This is especially apparent with Schefter noting the team has “no immediate plans” to pursue any free-agents:

Rams don't have any immediate plans to pursue a free-agent running back. They believe in Darrell Henderson, like last year's undrafted free agent RB Xavier Jones and also drafted RB Jake Funk in the seventh round this year. For now, they're standing pat, but could revisit later. https://t.co/kkIVXrySFq

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 20, 2021

OPPORTUNITY

Even with passing numbers set to increase with Matthew Stafford under center, McVay likes to run the football.

In the three seasons in which the Rams made the playoffs under McVay, the Rams averaged over 120 rushing yards. In the lone season the team did not make the playoffs, they averaged a tick shy of 94 rushing yards per game. The Rams have ranked top-10 in rushing TDs in all four of McVay’s seasons, and Top-10 in yards and attempts in all but one.

Furthermore, the removal of both Henderson and Brown jump the Rams to No. 2 on John Daigle’s 2021 unaccounted carries list with 299 total rushes and a league-high 21 carries inside the five from last year’s production.

Indeed, Akers’ injury and Stafford’s arrival will shift the run-to-pass balance. Still, McVay’s offense is predicated on “marrying the run and pass,” and he will still provide Henderson and this backfield plenty of opportunities as he establishes play-action.