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re: Derrick Henry: Where does he stack up at the end?
Posted on 3/6/26 at 9:07 pm to Paul Allen
Posted on 3/6/26 at 9:07 pm to Paul Allen
In no order he’s up there in this group of guys
Jim Brown
Walter Payton
Barry Sanders
Emmitt Smith
Ladainian Tomlinson
Adrian Peterson
That to me is the the best of the best
He’s more explosive than Emmitt and LT, although LT was a much much better receiver. Emmitt was more consistent and did it longer.
I’d put him in the 6-9 range all time probably right now, he’s definitely top ten all time imo and when it’s all said and done he has a chance to be top 5
Jim Brown
Walter Payton
Barry Sanders
Emmitt Smith
Ladainian Tomlinson
Adrian Peterson
That to me is the the best of the best
He’s more explosive than Emmitt and LT, although LT was a much much better receiver. Emmitt was more consistent and did it longer.
I’d put him in the 6-9 range all time probably right now, he’s definitely top ten all time imo and when it’s all said and done he has a chance to be top 5
This post was edited on 3/6/26 at 9:09 pm
2
Posted on 3/6/26 at 9:16 pm to SteveLSU35
He's in very rare company as far as being a guy that could dice through you with vision and cuts, run around you with lateral quickness, run over you with brute force or outrace you to the endzone with breakaway speed.
He's also been pretty damn consistent and durable for a position that probably ranks dead last in those two attributes.
But he gets points deducted for being a subpar blocker and receiver, both of which are important in the NFL.
Top 5 for sure if he finishes with another solid year or two. Top 10 otherwise.
Posted on 3/6/26 at 10:11 pm to Frac the world
Henry is an all timer for sure; however, he has only been All Pro one time. He only averages about 18 receptions per season. He is an outstanding north-south runner and has been durable during the current pass-first era. I'd put the following RBs in front of him:
Walter
Brown
Sanders
Tomlinson
Smith
Simpson
Dickerson
Peterson
Faulk
Earl
Sayers
So Henry between 11-15 in the Marcus Allen, Terrell Davis, Edgerin James, Thurman Thomas, Dorsett tier.
Walter
Brown
Sanders
Tomlinson
Smith
Simpson
Dickerson
Peterson
Faulk
Earl
Sayers
So Henry between 11-15 in the Marcus Allen, Terrell Davis, Edgerin James, Thurman Thomas, Dorsett tier.
Posted on 3/7/26 at 12:16 am to ATCTx
quote:
during the current pass-first era
See this is where he’s an anomaly because the NFL is so different now. It is a pass first era, which makes a better case for him imo.
Throw him in the 80s-90s he could be verging on the cusp of the all time yardage record. We know he can take 300+ carries a year easy.
I still think he’s above this group for what he’s done in the era he’s done it
Simpson
Dickerson
Faulk
Earl
Sayers
Yea his receiving takes a hit, but he’s better pure RB than Faulk and Sayers.
I’m not downplaying them, but in today’s era, Faulk and Sayers would be like a Jahmyr Gibbs in today’s game. That’s not a bad thing either.
Posted on 3/7/26 at 2:01 am to Frac the world
Posted on 3/7/26 at 2:02 am to Frac the world
Lay off the drugs
Posted on 3/7/26 at 3:47 am to Boss
quote:
Hell, John Riggins (although he is much better)
I wouldn’t say much better. Only difference is that Henry is a little bigger. They are comparable skill wise
Posted on 3/7/26 at 4:16 am to Ponchy Tiger
quote:
I wouldn’t say much better.
3.89 ypc vs 4.89 ypc
quote:
Only difference is that Henry is a little bigger.
That and he gained over 25% more per carry.
Posted on 3/7/26 at 5:26 am to MoarKilometers
I was just saying there talents and skills are similar. Plus Riggins has a Ring.
Posted on 3/7/26 at 8:06 am to SteveLSU35
Henry is great, we all see that, but every time I see great running back lists and the names O.J. Simpson and Gale Sayers I can't help but smile. Those guys were so fun to watch. Incredibly exciting running backs. And I loved the way Simpson would just casually toss the football to the referee after scoring a touchdown. What a different time.
Posted on 3/7/26 at 8:14 am to Boss
Crazy that Leonard Fournette is not in that group
Posted on 3/7/26 at 8:16 am to Frac the world
quote:
Faulk and Sayers would be like a Jahmyr Gibbs in today’s game
We all have our biases, but Faulk is the most complete modern nfl back. Not sure I’d take anyone over him for a RB under today’s rules.
Henry likely ends up in my top 10. I think he’s probably behind:
Sanders
Payton
Peterson
Faulk
Allen
And in the LT, Emmett Smith, Thurmond Thomas grouping.
These are just guys I’ve personally watched.
Posted on 3/7/26 at 9:36 am to ned nederlander
quote:
Henry likely ends up in my top 10.
No Super Bowls. No MVPs. 1x 1st team all-pro. 1x OPTY.
He has great counting numbers, a bunch of pro bowls and 2nd/3rd team all-pros. But how did he contribute to winning? What are his next level numbers, carrying teams to championships?
I don't think he's top 10. He'll end up a physical freak, with awesome stats, like Eddie George.
Posted on 3/7/26 at 9:54 am to Boss
Dickerson and Sanders are the greatest RB's in history. No all pros on the OL. Smith had dudes which made it easy.
Posted on 3/7/26 at 10:02 am to brmark70816
quote:
No MVPs. 1x 1st team all-pro. 1x OPTY.
All of these are subjective. Not only that, it is much more difficult for a RB to be selected MVP in the modern game. Only four RBs have done it since the turn of the century, and the last one (Adrian Peterson) did it 14 years ago.
This post was edited on 3/7/26 at 10:05 am
Posted on 3/7/26 at 10:09 am to brmark70816
quote:
No Super Bowls. No MVPs. 1x 1st team all-pro. 1x OPTY.
He would’ve been a 3x 1st team under the old rules in which there were 2 RBs per team.
Also RBs aren’t winning MVPs anymore and SBs are a team accomplishment. Plenty of great RBs never won a SB. And Henry has been great in the playoffs. In 2019 he had back to back games with 180+ yards to get them to the AFCCG. Not his fault Tannehill was mediocre. Overall he’s 7th all time in post season rushing yards with 111 ypg.
Posted on 3/7/26 at 10:10 am to RollTide1987
I’m shocked he only has one 1st team all pro
That’s not really subjective
That’s not really subjective
Posted on 3/7/26 at 10:17 am to Sun God
quote:
I’m shocked he only has one 1st team all pro
They changed the rules a while back in which 1 RB makes it per team. For example under these new rules, a guy like Walter Payton would’ve had 3 of his 1st team selections converted to 2nd team and lost all 3 of his 2nd team selections. So he would’ve been a 2x 1st team all pro and 3x 2nd team instead of the 5x 1st team and 3x 2nd team that he is
It’s dumb that there’s the same amount of FBs on the lists as there are RBs even though most teams don’t use FBs anymore
Posted on 3/7/26 at 10:31 am to Frac the world
quote:The flip side to this is he faces more nickel and dime packages than the backs from the 70's and 80's. You'll mostly have only one lb in dime packages.
See this is where he’s an anomaly because the NFL is so different now. It is a pass first era, which makes a better case for him imo.
He's a great rb. He's been better than anyone imagined. Franco Harris weighed 230lbs and was 6'2". Great rb in his time and I think Henry is better.
Posted on 3/7/26 at 10:41 am to ChestRockwell
Sanders had some all pro linemen also.
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