Factoid

February 14, 2026

Old man running backs

Can Derrick Henry do it again?

Taking an early look at the Baltimore Ravens, you wonder if Derrick Henry can keep things going. He's 32 years old, an age in which most running backs are out of the league or backups at best.

Could he really have another top-10 or 15 season? Odds are against it.

But the same could have -- and was -- said a year ago, when Henry was 31. And while there were some down games in there, he wound up rushing for 1,595 yards and 16 touchdowns, finishing as the No. 7 running back in PPR scoring. Drafting a 32-year-old running back is scary, but letting a back of Henry's caliber fall too far in the second round of drafts also carries plenty of risk.

In the last 20 years, 13 running backs aged 31 or older have had seasons finishing with top 20 numbers in PPR leagues. Eight have finished in the top 12. Frank Gore is the king in this area, finishing in the top 20 three times (ages 32-34) with the Colts.

Just one other back in the top 10 in the last decade, though: Raheem Mostert with Miami in 2023.

Table shows the top 50 seasons from 31-year-old or older running backs in the last 20 years. It's worth pointing out that three of the backs who finished better than Henry in that time period were helped along by strong receiving production, catching 35, 40 and 58 balls. Henry won't be doing much of that, so it's the rushing yards and touchdowns he'll need to keep going with to again finish in the top 12-15 backs.

Yards per attempt for these backs is included because I noticed that Henry's 5.2 last season was better than any of the others who finished in the top 20. (Others in the top 25 who exceeded that, Kevin Faulk and Darren Sproles, were very different kinds of backs.)

RUNNING BACKS, AGED 31 OR OLDER, 2006-2025
Year	Player	Age	G	Att	Run	Avg	No	Rec	TD	Rk
2023	Raheem Mostert, Mia.	31	15	209	1012	4.8	25	175	21	5
2015	DeAngelo Williams, Pitt.	32	16	200	907	4.5	40	367	11	5
2009	Ricky Williams, Mia.	32	16	241	1121	4.7	35	264	13	6
2006	Tiki Barber, NYG	31	16	327	1662	5.1	58	465	5	6
2025	Derrick Henry, Balt.	31	17	307	1595	5.2	15	150	16	7
2009	Thomas Jones, NYJ	31	16	331	1402	4.2	10	58	14	9
2013	Fred Jackson, Buff.	32	16	206	890	4.3	47	387	10	11
2016	Frank Gore, Ind.	33	16	263	1025	3.9	38	277	8	12
2015	Frank Gore, Ind.	32	16	260	967	3.7	34	267	7	14
2010	LaDainian Tomlinson, NYJ	31	15	219	914	4.2	52	368	6	15
2014	Fred Jackson, Buff.	33	14	141	525	3.7	66	501	3	16
2018	Adrian Peterson, Was.	33	16	251	1042	4.2	20	208	8	19
2017	Frank Gore, Ind.	34	16	261	961	3.7	29	245	4	20
2016	Matt Forte, NYJ	31	14	218	813	3.7	30	263	8	21
2014	Frank Gore, S.F.	31	16	255	1106	4.3	11	111	5	21
2008	Kevin Faulk, N.E.	32	15	83	507	6.1	58	486	6	21
2014	Darren Sproles, Phil.	31	15	57	329	5.8	40	387	8	22
2017	Marshawn Lynch, Oak.	31	15	207	891	4.3	20	151	7	23
2016	Darren Sproles, Phil.	33	15	94	438	4.7	52	427	4	24
2006	Corey Dillon, N.E.	32	16	199	812	4.1	15	147	13	24
2006	Warrick Dunn, Atl.	31	16	286	1140	4.0	22	170	5	25
2015	Darren Sproles, Phil.	32	16	83	317	3.8	55	388	6	26
2007	Fred Taylor, Jac.	31	15	223	1202	5.4	9	58	5	26
2010	Thomas Jones, K.C.	32	16	245	896	3.7	14	122	6	27
2014	Steven Jackson, Atl.	31	15	190	707	3.7	20	148	6	28
2012	Willis McGahee, Den.	31	10	167	731	4.4	26	221	4	28
2008	Warrick Dunn, T.B.	33	15	186	786	4.2	47	330	2	28
2007	Warrick Dunn, Atl.	32	16	227	720	3.2	37	238	4	28
2022	Cordarrelle Patterson, Atl.	31	13	144	695	4.8	21	122	9	31
2022	Latavius Murray, 2TM	32	13	171	760	4.4	27	132	6	32
2019	Adrian Peterson, Was.	34	15	211	898	4.3	17	142	5	32
2012	Fred Jackson, Buff.	31	10	115	437	3.8	34	217	4	34
2011	LaDainian Tomlinson, NYJ	32	14	75	280	3.7	42	449	3	35
2016	Rashad Jennings, NYG	31	13	181	593	3.3	35	201	4	36
2008	Sammy Morris, N.E.	31	13	156	727	4.7	17	161	7	36
2007	Aaron Stecker, N.O.	32	16	115	448	3.9	36	211	5	36
2024	Ameer Abdullah, L.V.	31	16	66	311	4.7	40	261	5	37
2008	Ricky Williams, Mia.	31	16	160	659	4.1	29	219	5	37
2020	Adrian Peterson, Det.	35	16	156	604	3.9	12	101	7	40
2019	LeSean McCoy, K.C.	31	13	101	465	4.6	28	181	5	40
2012	Ronnie Brown, S.D.	31	14	46	220	4.8	49	371	0	40
2025	Aaron Jones, Min.	31	12	132	548	4.2	28	199	3	41
2021	Brandon Bolden, N.E.	31	17	44	226	5.1	41	405	3	41
2010	Ricky Williams, Mia.	33	16	159	673	4.2	19	141	3	41
2009	Correll Buckhalter, Den.	31	14	120	642	5.4	31	240	1	41
2017	Matt Forte, NYJ	32	12	103	381	3.7	37	293	3	42
2009	Kevin Faulk, N.E.	33	15	62	335	5.4	37	301	3	42
2006	Michael Pittman, T.B.	31	16	50	245	4.9	47	405	1	42
2007	Kevin Faulk, N.E.	31	16	62	265	4.3	47	383	1	44
2017	LeGarrette Blount, Phil.	31	16	173	766	4.4	8	50	3	45

One other 2025 back made the list: Aaron Jones. Had he played in all 17 games, he'd have cracked the top 25. (Of course, missing games is one of the things that becomes more likely as running backs get older.)

--Andy Richardson

To continue reading this article, please Login or Sign Up at the website

Derrick Henry

Older

Newer

My dad and I have subscribed since I was 10 years old and I am 38 now. We canʼt go a season without it.

Trevor T. Sparks, Nev.

You guys are great - if you look at my account, I believe I have been a subscriber for around 20 years! Unfortunately, a few years ago a couple of other owners found the same publication (they didnʼt get it from me; I always disguised the sheets while at the draft!)

Michael B. St. Charles, Mo.

I have purchased your magazine since my first fantasy football season ever 12 season ago and love the insight you offer. Thank you for the great service, I look forward to many many more years of enjoying your subscription!

Paul L. Mequon, Wisc.

The magazine is exactly the same as last year, which is perfect. Boys, we have a chance to repeat in the 33rd year of the NWFFL. I am counting on you to help pull it off. FI has been a league staple for decades, one of my guys has every edition. A few years ago, we devised a clever way to use one of your lists to draft a team for an absent owner, the sob won it all. We love you guys. Peace!

Glenn S. Olympia, Wash.

Hi, received my copy over the weekend and I think it's the best work you guys have done (I've been reading your publication since 1988). The writing is terrific and full of good humor, along with more substance than anybody else has.

Keep up the great work!

John L. Madison, Wis.

I'm in 3 leagues. All have different formats. I bought one magazine, the same magazine for 30 years. I keep the Fantasy Football Index handy and refer back to your preseason reports throughout the season to help me evaluate roster moves in every format. This week I'm in two championship games and a semifinal. Did I tell you I'm in three leagues? Three playoff teams! Best fantasy season ever. Thank you.

Henry G. Bartlett, Ill.

Thanks for another great season of Fantasy Index, you avoid group-think and form your own opinions, and always have. I've been using your products since 1992, and you've always been a cut above the rest.

Rob D. Wellington, Fla.

Thank you for all you do and what your team does. Been playing since mid 90s and your mag has been there every year. The mailer I get with the questions on the front is what I consider the beginning of the fantasy football season. Get the updates and listen to the podcast. I write a weekly column for the newspaper I work at and always appreciate the work you put in to produce as much as you do. Just a fan saying thanks and will keep up with you and the site through the season.

Jason C. Tulsa, Okla.

A little feedback from a long time customer.

Our fantasy pool is entering its 25^th year and I have used multiple books and on-line tools over the years.

I have locked on to Fantasy Index as my go to for the last 5 years and have won the pool 3 of those years and finished no lower than 4^th.

Interesting to see how much more accurate you were at the end of the year compared to other books my competitors used.

Having it in a format that allows me to work the forecasts to match our scoring system and then receive updates as the season approaches is invaluable. Whoever your sources are for the forecasts are the best. Hang on to them. Thanks for the help!!

Peter M. London, Ontario, Canada

I did receive the updated draft ranking from you guys in plenty of time for my draft that night. My draft report gave me an A+ and predicted me to go 14-0 and win my league! I just want to say thank you for the excellent customer service that your company provided me. When I first started playing fantasy football more than 15 years ago, I used to buy as many fantasy football magazines as I could find. It wasnʼt long before I only purchased Fantasy Football Index each year. It is by far the most comprehensive, well written fantasy football magazine on the market. Also, I almost always rank in the top three in my fantasy football leagues, and won my league last year. Thank you to you and all of your great team. You have a customer for life!

Trey C. Fort Worth, Texas

Thank you for all the updates etc. In the last 14 or 15 years, we have placed in the top three 9 times winning it all 4 times. I have been a customer of yours for many years. Our success is partially due to luck, but I think your magazine with all of the good stuff has been a real contributing factor. Keep up the good work. Will be a customer until the time I can't read anymore.

Richard M. Imperial, Neb.

I just wanted to send everyone at Fantasy Football Index an apology. Since 2003 (Ricky Williams cover), I've protected my source of information and have gone out of my way to hide Fantasy Football Index from my leagues prying eyes. I've won championships in leagues and money playing Daily Fantasy and your Training Camp updates are the highlight of my summer and a recurring order for me every single season. I just wanted to Thank You and everyone there (customer service, the writers, janitors, secretaries and assistants) for your hard work and dedication.

You are appreciated and valued part of my Fantasy Football Operations department even if i never speak your name in fear that others in my league will discover the wondrous bounty of knowledge contained in your pages…

From the bottom of a champion's heart,

Dave M. Elma, N.Y.

I wanted to send a quick note and thank you for your great magazine! The information you provide, has allowed me to win my league 3 years in a row!

The payoff in the league is not bad, six hundred dollars to be exact, but it is those all important bragging rights that really make it fun!

I epically enjoyed this last issue because you included all the covers for the past 30 years, I did not buy 87, and 88, but all the rest I have purchased.

All I have to do is read and then plug and play, thanks again for doing all the work so I don't have to, except for cash the check of course! Lol.

I will be continue to purchase your magazine, and recommend it to others, although I don't like to give away my secret!

I typically don't write emails to magazines, but after 3 wins in a row, and others which I did not list, I felt like you would like to know.

Thanks again to you and your staff,

Darrell W. Holt, Mich.

I wanted to let you know I finished my season going 16-0 winning my league, breaking every record in our 19 year history along the way. A special thank you to FI for the insightful knowledge as it provided me much help along the way.

Ryan M. Lynnwood, Wash.

You guys do a great job. I got laughed at by a few people at the draft but they're not laughing now. I'm leading the league in record (8-1) and PF thus far.

John W. Aylett, Va.

And a side note… we've got a re-draft 16-team, 20 players drafted league (drafting water boys by the 17^th round) that I've won 2 years in a row. Nobody's ever done that in 21 years… using your cheat sheet. it's an old school league that used to draft out of piles of magazines.

Thanks again,

Todd S. Grand Junction, Colo.

This is my ninth year competing with my two very savey adult children and their 11 regulars to make it a 14 team draft with a $200 bid limit. Your SuperFanatic package has put me into the 6 team play- offs 4 out of the 8 years and there is no way I could compete with these guys without my cheat sheets! They still have no idea how I can be so lucky every year :-) Cheaters do prosper!!!!

Robert A.

I wanted to thank you for such an amazing product and your customer service. I ordered the wrong date for my update and called to correct the mistake. Your customer service person was very kind, helpful and took care of the issue immediately.

I have used your product for the past 18 years or so… Every now and then I will be tempted and look at what other magazines have to offer, quickly realizing no one comes close.

In addition to the magazine, I started buying the weekly updates years ago when my dad taught me a lesson. The draft came and dad was sitting in the 12 hole for his pick. He told me he felt very comfortable about who he was going to select but would not tell me who his prized gem was to be. I was doubtful. The pick? Priest Holmes (his first dynamite year). I remember telling my dad, "that is a decent pick but they plan to pull him at the goal line." Ever the teacher, dad explained he had purchased the Fantasy Football Index update and read Holmes would get the goal line carries. "Update?", I asked. That was 2002 and Holmes had 21 rushing TDs and Dad won the title! Lesson learned.

By the way, I have made the title game for the last 5 years in a row. Thanks for the detailed, hard work and an great product!

David R. Queen Creek, Ariz.

Fantasy Index

Customer Service

Factoid

Old man running backs

Today's Trivia

Mailbag

Fantasy Baseball Index 2026

Member updates

Follow

Why Choose Fantasy Index?

Quick hits

Your Stuff

In-Depth

Resources

All Products

Help & Support

Fantasy Index

Customer Service

Customer Service