Titans Derrick Henry Drops 4 Spots in ESPN's Ranking of Top NFL Running Backs

Derrick Henry ran for over 1,500 yards and set career highs in catches and receiving yards, but somehow he dropped four spots from first to fifth in ESPN's 2023 running back rankings.

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans' players are often underrated and disrespected by national media and that trend continues with Derrick Henry as the star running back fell four spots in ESPN's rankings despite a statistically great year.

Derrick Henry played behind the worst offensive line in the NFL last year while having the worst offensive coordinator in the league while having constant change at quarterback while having one of the worst group of receivers in the NFL while....

Do I need to go on? Despite all those factors, Henry still ran for 1,538 yards with 13 rushing touchdowns. He added a career high 33 catches and 398 receiving yards. All coming one season after a foot injury cost him half of 2021. 

For comparison, Nick Chubb, who finished first, was not coming off of a major injury, had a competent backup all year in Kareem Hunt, has one of the best offensive lines in the NFL and has a great offensive coach in Kevin Stefanski. 

With all those factors in Chubb's favor, Henry still outproduced him in every category. Chubb had less rushing yards, less rushing touchdowns, less catches and less receiving yards.

There is no logical argument to make that Chubb is better than Henry. It doesn't exist. Chubb did best Henry in yards per carry, but considering the factors discussed above, that seems pretty far from anything that could tip the scales to Chubb over Henry.

The insanity is that Henry should be first on this list, but somehow is all the way down at fifth. After Chubb, Christian McCaffery is ranked second with Josh Jacobs next and Saquon Barkley at four. Just true absurdity that Jacobs and Barkley are ahead of Henry.

Jacobs had more rushing yards than Henry in 2022. That can't be argued, but Henry played half a season in 2021 and still had more rushing yards than Jacobs did. Jacobs had a great season in a contract year, but do we really think that one season erases the fact Henry has been the better player Jacobs' entire career? Absolutely not.

Barkley is the most ridiculous. Henry outproduced him in every category except catches. That's right, Henry had more receiving yards. Barkley is sold as a dynamic two-way threat and he is, but if Henry is getting more receiving yards while out-rushing him as well, what is the argument for Barkley being higher?

McCaffery is a great player and his versatility and importance make him at least a valid option to put up against Henry. It would be reasonable if McCaffery was ranked first with Henry in the second spot, but they way things are laid out here is just asinine.

At this point, I am going to run out of descriptive words for the flat-out bad rankings we see here. Derrick Henry once again is disrespected despite being the best back of his generation. Guess the king will have to show the NFL who runs the kingdom again in 2023.

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