NFL MVP stock watch: Russell Wilson and Patrick Mahomes 1-2
By Dustin Baker
4. Derrick Henry, RB (Tennessee Titans)
Last Week’s Ranking: 5th (+1)
Highest Ranking of Season: 3rd (-1)
2020 Stats: 161 Rushes, 775 Rushing Yards, 8 Rushing TDs, 4.8 Yards/Carry, 10 Receptions, 81 Receiving Yards
The Titans were beholders of a stinker in Week 8. Tennessee befuddled almost everybody and dropped a contest to the not-very-scary Cincinnati Bengals, 31-20. In a vacuum, Mike Vrabel’s squad will probably rebound admirably from the flummoxing loss, but the defeat does throw a wrench into homefield advantage plans for the Titans.
Ryan Tannehill wasn’t very good — he contributed a 46.3 QBR on the afternoon. His counterpart, Derrick Henry, was fantastic. The current rushing king pounded away 112 rushing yards and a touchdown. That’s right, Henry gouged the Bengals to the tune of 6.2 yards per carry in the losing effort.
On the whole, Henry is on pace to rush for 1,771 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns. The touchdown numbers pale in comparison to the aforementioned Dalvin Cook, but Henry still edges him in yards.
The Titans loss to the Bengals was only the team’s second one of the season, so Henry need not tumble off the rankings. On the horizon, however, Tennessee has Chicago, Indianapolis, and Baltimore up next. Yikes for a running back.