Derrick Henry is Going Too Low in 2024 Yahoo ADP, Has a Massive Goal-line Role - Bleacher Nation (2024)

As of August 4th, Derrick Henry is being drafted as the 15th player in Round 2 Yahoo ADP. He isbeing draftedas the 7th player at the running back position.

*Check out the full Yahoo ADP at 4for4!*

Round 2 Yahoo ADP:

According to current4for4 Half-PPR Rankings, these players are going too high inRound 2 Yahoo ADP:

Puka Nacua Outlook– Puka Nacua posted 105 catches for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns as a rare “league-winner” in his rookie season. His numbers did take a significant dip in the 12 games that Cooper Kupp was active. He averaged 8.6-108-0.40 on 11.6 targets per game in five games that Kupp missed. In the 12 games that Kupp played, Nacua averaged 5.2-79-0.33 on 8.4 targets per game.

That’s the difference between elite, top-five type numbers and fringe WR1 production. If Kupp is healthy, Nacua’s WR7 ADP may be wishful thinking. Nacua has overall WR1 upside if Kupp were to miss any more time.

Davante Adams Outlook– Davante Adams finished the 2023 season as the fantasy WR13 but saw the second-most targets, so he wasn’t all that efficient thanks to suspect quarterback play. Enter Gardner Minshew, who hopes to start for the Raiders after 13 starts for the Colts last season.

Minshew provided 1.17 (half-PPR) fantasy points per target to his receivers last year while Raiders quarterbacks combined to offer 1.18 fantasy points per target, so it’s not a sure thing that Minshew is much of an upgrade for Adams and Co. Given his immense volume and the possibility of an upgrade, Adams is still a viable low-end WR1/high-end WR2 heading into the 2024 season.

According to current4for4 Half-PPR Rankings, these players are going too low in Round 2 Yahoo ADP:

Derrick Henry Outlook– Derrick Henry finished as the RB8 in his age-29 season running behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league. Tennessee running backs averaged 2.2 yards before contact per attempt last season, while the Ravens were second (3.2) in the league.

Henry posted the No. 6 rushing grade at PFF, and was 11th in yards after contact per attempt and 16th in broken tackles per attempt. His age is a minor concern, but if Henry can stay healthy he has the potential to put up monster numbers in the Baltimore offense, which has generated an average of 15.0 (running back) rushing touchdowns since 2020.

Working backward, he has finished RB8, RB4, RB14 (eight games played), RB2, and RB3 in the last five seasons. He has legit 20-touchdown upside in the Baltimore offense.

*Check out the full set4for4’s award-winning Half-PPR fantasy football Rankings, customized for your ESPN league here*

Why you should be drafting Derrick Henry before Yahoo ADP in 2024 Fantasy Football Leagues

The Titans had issues getting movement at the line of scrimmage through most of the season, leading to a vast majority of their rushing yards coming after the defense contacted the rusher.

On the other hand, the Ravens led the league in running back yards before contact, even while being forced to use an unheard-of in-game rotation with their oft-injured All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley.

Though the team has lost right tackle Morgan Moses in free agency, the offensive line still projects as a strength, which is great news for Derrick Henry. Over the last five seasons, he has finished no lower than 12th in yards created after contact, with two second-place finishes.

While the between-the-20s outlook is sunny, his typical goal-line role will also be secure in his new home. Lamar Jackson has handled a large part of that in the past, but the team has eased off of throwing him into the scrum over the last two seasons.

The quarterback handled 41% of the team’s rushes from within the five-yard line in 2021, but that rate has dropped to 27% in 2022 and 14% in 2023.

This led to Gus Edwards handling a league-leading 23 goal-line carries last season, resulting in 12 touchdowns. There’s no reason to believe Henry won’t absorb that role this year.