It was all so exciting for Derrick Henry. The Titans released DeMarco Murray, suggesting the former second-round pick, in his third season, was poised for a featured-back role. Those good vibes lasted for about a week. And then the team signed Dion Lewis to a four-year, $20 million contract. So now what?
It's a given that Lewis will handle all passing situations. The Titans didn't use Henry in the passing game last year. He caught just 11 passes all season, compared to 39 for Murray. Lewis caught 32 for 214 yards and 3 TDs, despite New England having James White (and for that matter Rex Burkhead) to get a lot of those chances. So it will be Lewis rather than Henry when the Titans are in passing mode.
Is Henry a better runner than Lewis? Debatable. Last year 36 running backs put up at least 800 total (rushing and receiving) yards. Only one of them, Alvin Kamara, had a higher yards per carry number (6.1) than Lewis (5.0). Henry was right in the middle of the pack at 4.2.
| YARDS PER CARRY, 800-YARD (TOTAL) RBS, 2017 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | ReYds | RuAtt | RuYds | Avg | TD |
| Alvin Kamara, N.O. | 826 | 120 | 728 | 6.1 | 8 |
| Dion Lewis, N.E. | 214 | 180 | 896 | 5.0 | 6 |
| Mark Ingram, N.O. | 416 | 230 | 1124 | 4.9 | 12 |
| Kareem Hunt, K.C. | 455 | 272 | 1327 | 4.9 | 8 |
| Kenyan Drake, Mia. | 239 | 133 | 644 | 4.8 | 3 |
| Todd Gurley, LAR | 788 | 279 | 1305 | 4.7 | 13 |
| Chris Thompson, Wash. | 510 | 64 | 294 | 4.6 | 2 |
| Alex Collins, Balt. | 187 | 212 | 973 | 4.6 | 6 |
| LeGarrette Blount, Phil. | 50 | 173 | 766 | 4.4 | 2 |
| Devonta Freeman, Atl. | 317 | 196 | 865 | 4.4 | 7 |
| Orleans Darkwa, NYG | 116 | 171 | 751 | 4.4 | 5 |
| Giovani Bernard, Cin. | 389 | 105 | 458 | 4.4 | 2 |
| Bilal Powell, NYJ | 170 | 178 | 772 | 4.3 | 5 |
| Marshawn Lynch, Oak. | 151 | 207 | 891 | 4.3 | 7 |
| Duke Johnson, Clev. | 693 | 82 | 348 | 4.2 | 4 |
| Derrick Henry, Tenn. | 136 | 176 | 744 | 4.2 | 5 |
| Jay Ajayi, Mia.-Phil. | 158 | 208 | 873 | 4.2 | 1 |
| Isaiah Crowell, Clev. | 182 | 206 | 853 | 4.1 | 2 |
| C.J. Anderson, Den. | 224 | 245 | 1007 | 4.1 | 3 |
| Jordan Howard, Chi. | 125 | 276 | 1122 | 4.1 | 9 |
| Ezekiel Elliott, Dall. | 269 | 242 | 983 | 4.1 | 7 |
| Tevin Coleman, Atl. | 299 | 156 | 628 | 4.0 | 5 |
| LeVeon Bell, Pitt. | 655 | 321 | 1291 | 4.0 | 9 |
| LeSean McCoy, Buff. | 448 | 287 | 1138 | 4.0 | 6 |
| Carlos Hyde, S.F. | 350 | 240 | 938 | 3.9 | 8 |
| Latavius Murray, Minn. | 103 | 216 | 842 | 3.9 | 8 |
| Melvin Gordon, LAC | 476 | 284 | 1105 | 3.9 | 8 |
| Leonard Fournette, Jac. | 302 | 268 | 1040 | 3.9 | 9 |
| Javorius Allen, Balt. | 250 | 153 | 591 | 3.9 | 4 |
| Jerick McKinnon, Minn. | 421 | 150 | 570 | 3.8 | 3 |
| Lamar Miller, Hou. | 327 | 238 | 888 | 3.7 | 3 |
| Christian McCaffrey, Car. | 651 | 117 | 435 | 3.7 | 2 |
| Frank Gore, Ind. | 245 | 261 | 961 | 3.7 | 3 |
| Jamaal Williams, G.B. | 262 | 153 | 556 | 3.6 | 4 |
| DeMarco Murray, Tenn. | 266 | 184 | 659 | 3.6 | 6 |
| Joe Mixon, Cin. | 287 | 178 | 626 | 3.5 | 4 |
Henry should certainly get all or most of the goal-line work. He's a 6-foot-3, 247-pounder, while Lewis is just 5-foot-8 and 195 pounds. When the ball is near the end zone, will be a surprise if they don't have Henry on the field.
But they're not paying Lewis the kind of money they're giving him just to be a third-down back. Both guys should get plenty of carries. That makes it tough to get really excited about either player in fantasy, at least until one of them inevitably gets hurt.
--Andy Richardson