Adam Schefter dropped a BOMB Monday morning when he announced that the 2021 Fantasy MVP, Derrick Henry, may have suffered a season-ending foot injury during the team’s Week 8 matchup against the Colts. Since then, it was confirmed by Mike Vrabel that King Henry would undergo foot surgery today and would likely miss around eight weeks. The Titans could get their man back for the playoffs, but it’s safe to say his fantasy season is now over.
Henry is arguably the most important offensive player in the league. He currently leads the league in rushing attempts (219), rushing yards (937), rushing yards per game (117.1), and rushing touchdowns (10).
Derrick Henry has handled 219-of-230 running back rushing attempts for the Titans this season.
He has 353 more rushing yards than any other player in the NFL.
He has a league-high 10 rushing touchdowns.
Just a devastating blow if he is out all year.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 1, 2021
Henry looked off when he exited the game during the team’s second drive. He took his right cleat off and was helped by team doctors. He returned for the Titans’ next drive and played the rest of the game, but he totaled only 68 rushing yards on 28 carries — easily the worst game of his season at 2.43 yards per carry.
Henry was on another level this season and was the ultimate definition of a workhorse. He averaged nearly 120 rushing yards and over a touchdown per game and was even on pace to see 40 Ryan Tannehill targets. Through Week 8, Jeremy McNichols, Darrynton Evans, and Mekhi Sargent have combined to rush for only 49 yards this season.
With the trade deadline looming, expect the Titans to make a move. On Monday afternoon, they signed dusty Adrian Peterson to the practice squad with hopes of him being promoted to the active roster in the near future. With Evans now on season-ending IR, expect McNichols to handle the pass-catching duties (21 receptions on the season). It would be surprising to see a Peterson-McNichols committee for the remainder of the season, but we’ll know more after tomorrow’s trade deadline.
With the news of Titans’ RB Derrick Henry being out indefinitely, RBs that might be available via trade due to depth chart or team’s standing:
🏈Tevin Coleman
🏈David Johnson/Philip Lindsay
🏈Ty’Son Williams
🏈Melvin Gordon (unlikely)
🏈Ronald Jones
🏈Mike Davis
🏈Rashaad Penny— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 1, 2021
“We’ll have to move on without him in the short term and not look back,” Vrabel told reporters on Monday.
Keep an eye out for The Wolf’s Week 9 Fantasy Rankings and his Rest of Season Fantasy Rankings to gauge Henry’s short and long-term fantasy impact.
