Derrick Henry wins Best Runner

Derrick Henry wins Best Runner


• Henry’s age makes no distinction: The 31-year-old posted the very best PFF general and dashing grades of his profession in 2024.

• Henry surpasses Saquon Barkley in a number of areas: Henry beat out Barkley in yards after contact per try (3.50 to three.17), compelled missed tackles per try (0.25 to 0.18) and PFF dashing grade (93.1 to 85.6), amongst different classes.

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Whether it’s an 87-yard gallop to the top zone to open a recreation or a 43-yard dash to shut out a division title, Derrick Henry is able to shutting the door on any unsuspecting protection.

At 31 years previous, Henry earns PFF’s “Best Runner” award following the 2024 NFL common season.

Henry, appropriately nicknamed “King Henry,” joined the Baltimore Ravens this offseason on a modest two-year, $16 million deal after eight years with the Tennessee Titans, having already established himself as one of many recreation’s finest working backs of all time.

For Henry, this season — in a brand new atmosphere — was about turning again the clock. And 18 weeks later, his 93.1 PFF dashing grade suggests he’s removed from succumbing to the damage and tear that usually derails a working again’s profession by age 30.

Highest PFF Rushing Grades by RBs Aged 30 or Older (Since 2006)
PlayerAge (Season)*PFF Rushing Grade
Derrick Henry30 (2024)93.1
Raheem Mostert31 (2023)91.3
Fred Taylor31 (2007)89.4

*Age at begin of season

The 2016 second-round draft decide completed the common season with PFF’s highest general and dashing grades amongst working backs. He additionally tallied essentially the most yards after contact, compelled missed tackles and first-down runs.

His 1,137 yards after contact had been greater than all however eight working backs recorded general — earlier than contact, after contact or with no contact.

This 12 months was nothing new for Henry, who has now thrice earned a 90.0-plus PFF general grade in a season, however his 94.1 mark is a career-high. He by no means earned a recreation grade under 60.0 this season — a primary within the veteran’s nine-year NFL tenure.

This season wasn’t with out challenges. Henry needed to modify to extra lure, energy and pull-lead runs in a brand new offense. The shift didn’t faze him, as he earned a league-high 93.1 PFF dashing grade on such performs.

SeasonTrap %Power %Pull Lead %
20243%12%10%
20231%7%3%
20221%7%4%
20211%6%7%

Next to Henry within the dialog for the league’s finest working again this season was Saquon Barkley. His record-breaking marketing campaign deserves its kudos, too, with the first-year Philadelphia Eagle changing into simply the ninth working again in NFL historical past to eclipse 2,000 dashing yards in a season. But Barkley fell in need of Henry in a number of underlying aspects, together with yards after contact per try (3.50 to three.17), compelled missed tackles per try (0.25 to 0.18) and PFF dashing grade (93.1 to 85.6). He additionally ran behind PFF’s top-ranked offensive line.

In the top, King Henry answered all questions that arose when the Ravens signed him this offseason.

A brand new staff? Concerns about his age? One of the toughest defensive schedules within the NFL? New run ideas? None of it mattered.

The King reigned supreme.