Derrick Henry Is Running Into Legitimacy in MVP Conversation

It’s hard to find a player in the NFL more overlooked than Derrick Henry. 

Sure, he isn’t the nimble, pass-catching back that Christian McCaffrey is, but the man ran for 2,000 yards last season and wasn’t even a finalist for the MVP award. Henry has led the league in carries, yards and rushing touchdowns for the last two seasons, and we are just taking him for granted. 

That has to stop. Henry had three touchdowns on Sunday against the Seahawks to go along with 182 yards rushing. Even with A.J. Brown and Julio Jones there, Henry powers the offense. Because of that, he definitely deserves some MVP consideration.

WynnBET currently has his odds to win MVP set at +5000. Henry is behind players like Joe Burrow, Baker Mayfield and Jameis Winston. While all those players put their teams in better positions to win, they are not the reason they win like Henry. 

A running back hasn’t won the MVP since Adrian Peterson did in 2012 -- when he ran for 2,000 yards and almost broke the single-season record. Peterson was properly rewarded when he accomplished that feat; Henry might do it in back-to-back seasons. 

If he keeps this up -- and he will since the Titans are going to get every last carry they can out of him -- giving him the MVP will have to go to him or the award loses legitimacy. It’s already turned into an award for strictly quarterbacks, but giving Henry his flowers could buck that trend and open the award to everyone. 

Henry is stronger and more physically intimidating than every back in the league. He gets the most usage of anybody, and in a pass-happy league, he makes the ground game a viable strategy for the Titans.

Does Derrick Henry deserve love in the MVP race? Download the WynnBET app and make your pick today.