When the Baltimore Ravens signed running back Derrick Henry to a two-year, $16 million deal last offseason, it was seen as a bit of a risk, considering how much he was used during his eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans that saw him win NFL Offensive Player of the Year once and make five Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams.
Instead, Henry went out and did what he always doe - dominate. The Crimson Tide product appeared in all 17 games, rushing for 1,921 yards and a league-leading 16 touchdowns on a career-high 5.9 yards per attempt on his way to another Pro Bowl and All-Pro selection.
After the year, the Ravens rewarded Henry with a two-year, $30 million extension with $25 million guaranteed.
On Monday, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler released his annual top-10 running backs list as voted by executives, coaches and scouts around the league, and after Henry came in at No. 9 last year, he is No. 2 entering 2025.
"He'll slow down at some point, but he's got elite body composition and elite work ethic," an AFC executive said. "He's a monster. No one wants to tackle him, and then when he wears you down, that's when he breaks off that big run."
The only player listed ahead of Henry this year is Philadelphia Eagles running Saquon Barkley, who is coming off an Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl-winning campaign. The rest of the top 10 included Detroit's Jahmyr Gibbs, Atlanta's Bijan Robinson, San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey, Green Bay's Josh Jacobs, Indianapolis' Jonathan Taylor, Buffalo's James Cook, Houston's Joe Mixon and New Orleans' Alvin Kamara.
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The longer that Henry continues to destroy opposing defenses, the more impressive it becomes. Through nine seasons, Henry has carried the ball 2,355 times, which is already 32nd in NFL history. If he plays all 17 games in 2025, and continues at his current 17-game pace, he'll be just outside the top 20 when the year ends.
There's also a strong chance that when we're reading this list next year, Henry's name stands alone at the top.
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