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NFL MVP stock watch: Rodgers by a whisker

By Dustin Baker

Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images
Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images /
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NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – DECEMBER 20: Running back Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans stiff arms cornerback Alexander Myers#43 of the Detroit Lions during the second quarter of the game at Nissan Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – DECEMBER 20: Running back Derrick Henry #22 of the Tennessee Titans stiff arms cornerback Alexander Myers#43 of the Detroit Lions during the second quarter of the game at Nissan Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images) /

4. Derrick Henry, RB (Tennessee Titans)

Last Week’s Ranking: 4th 

Highest Ranking of Season: 3rd (-1)

2020 Stats: 321 Rushes, 1,679 Rushing Yards, 15 Rushing TDs, 5.2 Yards/Carry

Henry has an Adrian Peterson quality in him that he gets stronger as a season goes along. It’s a rarity. Peterson and Henry seem to relish increasing the intensity while the other 1,700 players in the league wear down. But not these two behemoths.

The Titans are currently the AFC’s No. 4 seed in the playoff seeding. Pittsburgh has nosedived as of late, so the Titans could feasibly crawl into the second or third seed if they win the remainder of their games (and the Steelers and Bills are tripped up). This possibility is available to Tennessee because Henry is a killer. Ryan Tannehill has been tremendous, but Henry is the lifeblood of the Titans. The man frankly doesn’t have bad games. He’s rushed for 50+ yards in 23 (!!) straight games. The next closest [and active] suitor to this mark is Dalvin Cook at 13 consecutive games. The NFL record for this narrow stat metric is 38 games set by Priest Holmes in the early 2000s.

Tennessee will take on Green Bay in Week 16. This is a miniature Super Bowl-like preview. Both teams are more than capable of reaching February football.

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