RB Darrell Henderson, LAR (2 Viewers)

[Ilov80s]

Henderson has always lacked lateral cuts/agility IMO. That plus his build make him a prime candidate for RB attrition. He's been hurt every year, including this one already. Buyer beware (or at least hedge with a cheap Sony handcuff).

Other way around IMO

 

[Hankmoody]

It’s hard to make an argument that McVay likes Henderson. Played Brown over him as a rookie. Drafted Akers with their first pick in 2020. They didn’t play Henderson until Akers got hurt. Then they pretty quickly pivoted back to Brown as their main back. Once Akers returned, Henderson was irrelevant again. This year when Akers got hurt, they gave Henderson a chance with the hesitation he’s always hurt. Henderson immediately gets hurt and they trade for Sony. To me this means they are absolutely looking for a reason to limit Henderson’s usage and have little faith in him.

Also as crazy as this sounds, watch the highlights of Sony last year, he looked fantastic. He doesn’t have any breakaway speed but his vision and cutting were really impressive. 

I didn't attempt to do so.  Your entire post is pretty much exactly what I said.

 

[Hankmoody]

That's ridiculous. Sony as a handcuff should be more than enough to get him. 

Sony has a much clearer path to value than Gainwell does but people get attached to their draft picks and think they’ll all be super stars.

It's not really that, it's about the upside/unknown.  Gainwell could still pull off the Aaron Jones and end up a super bargain, and while Sony could conceivably have some nice value we know what his ceiling looks like.  No one wants to be the guy that traded Aaron Jones for Jordan Howard.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Sony has a much clearer path to value than Gainwell does but people get attached to their draft picks and think they’ll all be super stars.

Agreed. 

 

[Ilov80s]

I didn't attempt to do so.  Your entire post is pretty much exactly what I said.

No it is not. My post is that the Rams don't want or trust Henderson and Michel is the back to get. You definitely did not say that. You were more saying, if one player is better he will get the ball more. Which to me, isn't really a take. You could say about almost any team. 

 

[Dr. Octopus]

It's not really that, it's about the upside/unknown.  Gainwell could still pull off the Aaron Jones and end up a super bargain, and while Sony could conceivably have some nice value we know what his ceiling looks like.  No one wants to be the guy that traded Aaron Jones for Jordan Howard.

Sure - but sometimes you play the odds as well. I’m really not saying Sony for Gainwell is no-brainer and I’ll honestly say I could see the argument either way. For this season Michel has potential league winning upside - look what CJ Anderson off the street was able to do in that offense. Even a broken down Gurley still put up numbers. I’m not a huge fan but it’s unfair to say we’ve seen his ceiling as the Pats we’re using a RBBC - although maybe Michel’s knees don’t hold up if he was given more.

And, yes, you are correct there’s the chance of Gainwell becoming a very valuable asset.

With all that said, I was really trying to speak more in the general sense not on this particular deal with my comment.

 

[barackdhouse]

That's ridiculous. Sony as a handcuff should be more than enough to get him. 

No way

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

No way

Agree to disagree. Sony has a clear path to playing time and added value to the Henderson owner as a Handcuff - which should go without saying since half the posts In here are speaking to Henderson’s fragility. 

 

[barackdhouse]

Sony has a much clearer path to value than Gainwell does but people get attached to their draft picks and think they’ll all be super stars.

There is no part of my valuation of Gainwell that includes thinking he will be a superstar. I do think he is the best pass catching back in the class and is going to be relevant week 1. But ultimately a complimentary player.

And I value that more than Sony. Who is older with terrible knees. And whose ceiling we are aware of. 

 

[Dr. Octopus]

There is no part of my valuation of Gainwell that includes thinking he will be a superstar. I do think he is the best pass catching back in the class and is going to be relevant week 1. But ultimately a complimentary player.

And I value that more than Sony. Who is older with terrible knees. And whose ceiling we are aware of. 

Read my next post.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

There is no part of my valuation of Gainwell that includes thinking he will be a superstar. I do think he is the best pass catching back in the class and is going to be relevant week 1. But ultimately a complimentary player.

And I value that more than Sony. Who is older with terrible knees. And whose ceiling we are aware of. 

But the Henderson owner should value Sony more, since in this case Henderson is his RB2, and he has scraps behind that. 

insurance costs money. That’s no different in FF. 

 

[barackdhouse]

But the Henderson owner should value Sony more, since in this case Henderson is his RB2, and he has scraps behind that. 

insurance costs money. That’s no different in FF. 

No dude. *You* value them that way. And based on what you're saying Gainwell is a no brainer over Sony in this scenario because it gives depth. I can't even believe you are saying what he *should* value more. I think you are the one that is wrong and that it isn't very close. Lots of people hate cuffing. You *should* value them differently. 

Read my next post.

Yea I'm with you I read it. I am just saying there is an ocean of a gap between Sony and thinking a higher ranked player has to be thought of as a superstar, or someone that an owner is married to because they drafted them. I have very tempered expectations for Gainwell, but that ocean is big enough for that. FWIW Gainwell is the one I would feel comfortable starting week 1. 

 

[barackdhouse]

But the Henderson owner should value Sony more, since in this case Henderson is his RB2, and he has scraps behind that. 

insurance costs money. That’s no different in FF. 

Henderson plus Gainwell >>>>>> 

Henderson plus Sony plus scraps

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Henderson plus Gainwell >>>>>> 

Henderson plus Sony plus scraps

Gainwell is one of the scraps 

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

No dude. *You* value them that way. And based on what you're saying Gainwell is a no brainer over Sony in this scenario because it gives depth. I can't even believe you are saying what he *should* value more. I think you are the one that is wrong and that it isn't very close. Lots of people hate cuffing. You *should* value them differently. 

you’re entitled to thinking whatever you like.

as am I. 

whether I’m wrong or not is in the eye of the beholder. As a Henderson owner, I would have liked to have handcuffed him. 

As such I believe the Henderson owner in my dynasty league might feel the same. 

Again, we can agree to disagree. Clearly you have a different valuation/opinion on both of these players. 

I just landed Gainwell in the 26th round of an IDP redraft on Sunday. Personally I think you’re overvaluing Gainwell for the purpose of disagreement. 

we can disagree about that part too. 

 

[Faust]

Sean McVay feels 'really comfortable' with Darrell Henderson Jr. leading the way at RB

 

[Timmay]

Starting him with confidence this week

 

[Sasgaard]

I think most of you are right and wrong on this. Sony and Henderson are completely two different runners. They are built differently as well. I think they will complement each other very well and I might be wrong but I see a true RBBC here. I think they will both get equal playing time more or less. Saying one has more value than the other when they are both playing is a none factor in my opinion. I think they have equal value until one gets hurt and they are both injury prone so they might be both out sooner than later....

 

[jimmy b]

 Saw this on Twitter...

The Rams drafted Darrell Henderson, watched him play for a full season, used their first pick on a  running back, who then got hurt, then traded for another running back.

The Rams may not think Henderson is as good as you think he is.

 

[Insein]

Henderson is not a bellcow. He's not going to get 25 carries and all the pass catches out of the backfield. That's why he was going in the 2nd and 3rd even before Michel. 

He's going to get about 12-18 carries a game to see what he can do with and maybe 2-4 targets. Plus the goaline work. That should be good enough for 80+ yards per game and maybe 10 TDs on the year. Approx 1400 yards and 10 TDs is still good production. 

You drafted him as an RB2 or RB3. You're not expecting him to be top 5 but rather hopefully be in the top 15. 

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Starting him with confidence this week

Same, PPR, he’s gonna shine under the prime time lights. He’s my flex option so it makes it a little easier. 

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

 Saw this on Twitter...

I’ve seen a lot of crazy #### on Twitter. I try not to be as influenced by it as this. 

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Henderson is not a bellcow. He's not going to get 25 carries and all the pass catches out of the backfield. That's why he was going in the 2nd and 3rd even before Michel. 
 

IIRC his ADP was 4th round, often falling into the 5th post Akers injury & prior to the Sony signing. 

He's going to get about 12-18 carries  a game to see what he can do with and maybe 2-4 targets. Plus the goaline work. That should be good enough for 80+ yards per game and maybe 10 TDs on the year. Approx 1400 yards and 10 TDs is still good production. 

that would be absolutely fine by me. 

You drafted him as an RB2 or RB3. You're not expecting him to be top 5 but rather hopefully be in the top 15. 

Correct.

 

[apalmer]

 Saw this on Twitter...

The Rams drafted Darrell Henderson, watched him play for a full season, used their first pick on a  running back, who then got hurt, then traded for another running back.

The Rams may not think Henderson is as good as you think he is.

Sounds like the arguments against Gus Edwards and James Robinson, except the Ravens and Jags didn't even draft them. 

 

[Anarchy99]

Henderson is not a bellcow. He's not going to get 25 carries and all the pass catches out of the backfield. That's why he was going in the 2nd and 3rd even before Michel. 

He's going to get about 12-18 carries a game to see what he can do with and maybe 2-4 targets. Plus the goaline work. That should be good enough for 80+ yards per game and maybe 10 TDs on the year. Approx 1400 yards and 10 TDs is still good production. 

You drafted him as an RB2 or RB3. You're not expecting him to be top 5 but rather hopefully be in the top 15. 

I don't know what the Rams will do with Henderson . . . but we do know what they have done with him up to this point. He's played in 26 NFL games and had 12 carries in a game 6 times and 4 targets in a game once. In college, he had 12 carries in 18 of 38 games and 4 catches twice. Between college and the NFL, he's had 12 carries 24 times in 66 games played (36% of the time).

As just pointed out a couple of posts ago, they thought so much about him that they had him as their 3rd RB in 2019, invested a 2nd round pick on a RB, and had him in a 3 headed RBBC last year. Heading into this year, he was set up to be a role player to Akers, but once Akers got hurt they added Michel.

None of that tells me that Akers should be expected to get 12-18 carries, 2-4 targets, 80+ yards a game, and 10 TD.  IMO, McVay is only talking up Henderson because what else can he say? That they don't believe in him? The way they have used him and their actions to date indicate they aren't that confident in Henderson. At an average of 15 carries a game, that projects to 250+ carries on the season. In the entire NFL last year, there were 10 RB that had 200 carries and only 3 backs that had 250 carries. Maybe Henderson gets the numbers you are suggesting, but I would take the under.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Sounds like the arguments against Gus Edwards and James Robinson, except the Ravens and Jags didn't even draft them. 

As we all know, on Twitter such logical leaps can be made as though time didn't pass, and Henderson didn’t average 4.4 YPC on his 177 carries, with 20 catches on 30 targets and six total touchdowns in 28 games. 

McVay sure seems to heap a lot of praise on a dude he hates so much.

If I were the Rams I woulda drafted Akers, too. Almost every NFL backfield is a shared experience, and he was on the board when they picked. Imo, Akers was overhyped in FF circles, and he may have done some y'all a favor by getting hurt. I sure wasn’t a buyer in the 1st round this year. 

Also, making the false equivalence argument that the Sony signing is exactly as significant as drafting Akers is the most Twitter thing about that. smh. 

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

At an average of 15 carries a game, that projects to 250+ carries on the season. In the entire NFL last year, there were 10 RB that had 200 carries and only 3 backs that had 250 carries. Maybe Henderson gets the numbers you are suggesting, but I would take the under.

Change “carries” to “touches” and 250 sounds about right. 

I’ve got him closer to 190 carries (at his average that’d be 836 yards) and 55 receptions. Say 10 total TD as a guess, but touchdowns are fickle. 

Which would suit me just fine as a flex play / BYE week RB2. 

 

[Insein]

Change “carries” to “touches” and 250 sounds about right. 

I’ve got him closer to 190 carries (at his average that’d be 836 yards) and 55 receptions. Say 10 total TD as a guess, but touchdowns are fickle. 

Which would suit me just fine as a flex play / BYE week RB2. 

Also have to add in another game. 

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Also have to add in another game. 

I keep forgetting to do that.  

ok, so 200 carries, 55 receptions. 

That’s a RB2 all day. 

Of course, he’s been dinged up over the years, so perhaps better to project 14-15 games. 

 

[Anarchy99]

Change “carries” to “touches” and 250 sounds about right. 

I’ve got him closer to 190 carries (at his average that’d be 836 yards) and 55 receptions. Say 10 total TD as a guess, but touchdowns are fickle. 

Which would suit me just fine as a flex play / BYE week RB2. 

You and I have already debated this, and I will say again what I said then. I have no ownership share of any Rams player, and I am only presenting what I see as an observer. Even if we set the bar at 250 touches, there were only 9 RB to his that number last year. Even with another game this year, I don't necessarily think all RB will see a 6% boost in their numbers. Injuries are still injuries, and workload management is still a thing. Teams need to keep their guys fresh and available throughout the season. For a team like the Rams, I especially think that will be the case because they will want guys healthy for the post season.

IMO, Henderson is best suited as a role player / part time back. I could care less what a coach says. If he claimed Henderson was the second coming of Walter Payton, should we believe him and does that make it so? McVay is saying the only thing he can say. He has to keep Henderson's confidence up. Maybe he will see a few extra touches until Michel gets up to speed, but I don't see Henderson getting the workload you are suggesting. 

Henderson is probably best suited as a 10-12 touch per game back. Michel has averaged 15.5 touches a game over his career. Last year, the three headed hydra at RB in LAR averaged 27 touches a game. Maybe I am crazy, but I see Henderson still getting 10-12 touches a game and Michel could get 15-16 touches after the first month of the season. If you want to give Henderson more receptions than Michel, feel free. 

That might be a little high, as I do think the Rams will probably pass a little more this year having less depth at RB. So maybe Henderson gets 10-12 touches and Michel gets 13-15 touches. But I don't see Henderson getting 250 touches and Michel getting "backup" work and 75-100 touches on the season. Like any other team, should one of those two get hurt, the other guy will see a big jump in touches and fantasy numbers.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

You and I have already debated this, and I will say again what I said then. I have no ownership share of any Rams player, and I am only presenting what I see as an observer. Even if we set the bar at 250 touches, there were only 9 RB to his that number last year. Even with another game this year, I don't necessarily think all RB will see a 6% boost in their numbers. Injuries are still injuries, and workload management is still a thing. Teams need to keep their guys fresh and available throughout the season. For a team like the Rams, I especially think that will be the case because they will want guys healthy for the post season.

IMO, Henderson is best suited as a role player / part time back. I could care less what a coach says. If he claimed Henderson was the second coming of Walter Payton, should we believe him and does that make it so? McVay is saying the only thing he can say. He has to keep Henderson's confidence up. Maybe he will see a few extra touches until Michel gets up to speed, but I don't see Henderson getting the workload you are suggesting. 

Henderson is probably best suited as a 10-12 touch per game back. Michel has averaged 15.5 touches a game over his career. Last year, the three headed hydra at RB in LAR averaged 27 touches a game. Maybe I am crazy, but I see Henderson still getting 10-12 touches a game and Michel could get 15-16 touches after the first month of the season. If you want to give Henderson more receptions than Michel, feel free. 

That might be a little high, as I do think the Rams will probably pass a little more this year having less depth at RB. So maybe Henderson gets 10-12 touches and Michel gets 13-15 touches. But I don't see Henderson getting 250 touches and Michel getting "backup" work and 75-100 touches on the season. Like any other team, should one of those two get hurt, the other guy will see a big jump in touches and fantasy numbers.

I think you’re wildly overestimating the # of touches Sony Michel’s knee will allow, but each to their own. 

The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle of our estimations. At the moment, only McVay really knows.

 

[Anarchy99]

I think you’re wildly overestimating the # of touches Sony Michel’s knee will allow, but each to their own. 

The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle of our estimations. At the moment, only McVay really knows.

I'd actually go a little further than that. I don't think even McVay really knows at this point either. It will depend on how productive each guy is. The entire offense will be a work in progress, as they haven't played a single game with Stafford yet.

As far as Michel goes, his knee was fine last year and this year. He's looked a lot better over the past 12-18 months. If he could get 15-20 on a balky knee, wouldn't he be available for more of a workload on one that seems a lot better these days? And it's not like Henderson has been a pillar of health either. Bottom line, I don't see either one of these guys getting 25 touches in a game any time soon.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Bottom line, I don't see either one of these guys getting 25 touches in a game any time soon.

on that we can agree. 

I figure they’ll split carries & Henderson will get the bulk of the receiving work.

I also think they’re both capable of getting the ball at the stripe, so it could be a “fresh legs” situational thing (that frustrating scenario where one back runs it to the 5 & the other comes in & vultures the TD)

IMO, it will be difficult to evaluate based on this weekend because I’m skeptical Sony will be able to learn enough of the playbook, so even if Henderson gets 18-20 touches, I doubt that would be something to project forward.

it might however be a great time to sell high on Henderson, assuming he makes it through week 1 healthy. 

 

[iamkoza]

I think he played every snap until late in the 4th. Thought he looked ok. They're going to work in Michel more in the coming weeks

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Pretty happy with Henderson tonight. Clearly McVay saved him to salt the game, which he did. 

He looked a lot more electric than Sony, who plodded for a couple on his carry. Short yardage touches went to Henderson, too.

I actually do hope Sony can pick up the playbook, because I suspect they’ll use Henderson more when then have confidence that they can give him a breather from time to time. 

 

[Insein]

Henderson is not a bellcow. He's not going to get 25 carries and all the pass catches out of the backfield. That's why he was going in the 2nd and 3rd even before Michel. 

He's going to get about 12-18 carries a game to see what he can do with and maybe 2-4 targets. Plus the goaline work. That should be good enough for 80+ yards per game and maybe 10 TDs on the year. Approx 1400 yards and 10 TDs is still good production. 

You drafted him as an RB2 or RB3. You're not expecting him to be top 5 but rather hopefully be in the top 15. 

So far so good. 

17 touches, 87 total yards and a TD. 

 

[Stat Correction]

Of the guys in that general draft vicinity (Henderson/Robinson/Davis), Henderson was the man in week 1 against a legit Bears D. Looked quick and powerful, and finished runs.

Very pleased.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

So far so good. 

17 touches, 87 total yards and a TD. 

And got stronger as the game went on. 

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

Of the guys in that general draft vicinity (Henderson/Robinson/Davis), Henderson was the man in week 1 against a legit Bears D. Looked quick and powerful, and finished runs.

Very pleased.

Perfect flex back, and I saw tonight as somewhat strange usage, for reasons I said above. 

 

[barackdhouse]

 Personally I think you’re overvaluing Gainwell for the purpose of disagreement

I only just now circled back to this but I would never do this. That isn't a thing. 

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I only just now circled back to this but I would never do this. That isn't a thing. 

Water under the bridge. Gainwell with 14 on my bench l. He’s gonna be useful this year. I wish I’d been able to get him. 

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

(3 hrs ago) Henderson is expected to remain the Rams' featured back Sunday against the Colts after playing 94 percent of the team's offensive snaps in the season opener, Cameron DaSilva of USA Today reports.

Henderson was effective as the Rams' go-to running back in Week 1, turning 17 touches into 87 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. Coach Sean McVay gave no indication that backup Sony Michel is going to usurp a larger portion of the backfield workload going forward, dispelling the idea that the backfield balance would shift once Michel became more intimately familiar with the Rams' playbook. "Darrell's a guy that's done a really nice job and I was really pleased with how he got stronger as the game went on," McVay said of Henderson's performance against Chicago.

 

[Tanner9919]

he's going to be money this season. chip on his shoulder type thing where he goes off every week just to silence the critics on his way to a pro bowl dudes a stud

 

[Faust]

Darrell Henderson walked to the Rams locker room with an upper body injury.

Henderson went down hard in the fourth quarter, and came off the field for the following play. He then walked to the locker room, holding his side. His status for the rest of the game is unknown.

Sep 19, 2021, 3:26 PM ET

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

:(  

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

My fault. I jinxed it. 

 

[Insein]

Damn. Another solid game but wonder how bad the injury is. 

 

[TampaMike19]

Damn. Another solid game but wonder how bad the injury is. 

I get worried that Cam Akers was affected for a long time by a rib injury. RB's take a lot of shots- this does not help the injury narrative for Henderson. 

 

[The Finist]

Coach Sean McVay said Darrell Henderson is dealing with a rib cartilage issue, but the team has "hope and optimism" he'll be ready for Week 3 against the Bucs.

SOURCE: Lindsey Thiry on Twitter

Sep 20, 2021, 7:54 PM ET

 

[Insein]

Coach Sean McVay said Darrell Henderson is dealing with a rib cartilage issue, but the team has "hope and optimism" he'll be ready for Week 3 against the Bucs.

SOURCE: Lindsey Thiry on Twitter

Sep 20, 2021, 7:54 PM ET

Wow. That's great news. I'd actually like him to sit this week since it's a tough matchup anyway but it's good to hear he could be ready to go this week.