Why a national media outlet says Titans RB Derrick Henry is 'overvalued'
CBS Sports recently detailed who they believe is the most overvalued player on each AFC team and their choice for the Tennessee Titans was a bit puzzling. Jeff Kerr, an NFL writer for CBS Sports, believes star running back Derrick Henry is the most overvalued player on Tennessee's roster. Here's his reasoning: The Titans offense […]
CBS Sports recently detailed who they believe is the most overvalued player on each AFC team and their choice for the Tennessee Titans was a bit puzzling.
Jeff Kerr, an NFL writer for CBS Sports, believes star running back Derrick Henry is the most overvalued player on Tennessee's roster.
Here's his reasoning:
The Titans offense goes through Henry, even if Tennessee proved it could win games without him last season. When Henry missed nine games last year (foot), the Titans did go 6-3 in his absence and earned home-field advantage in the AFC.
There isn't a running back with more carries than Henry over the last three years (900), and the results have been a whopping 4,504 rushing yards and 43 touchdowns. Tennessee is 26-13 in games Henry plays, including an impressive 18-3 record when he rushes for 100 yards.
Hard to blame the Titans for feeding Henry an average of 23.1 carries a game, since giving him the football translates to victories and playoff runs. The Titans offense is milking Henry's prime (he's 28) as they still have a championship window open with him around.
But coming off that foot injury, they would be wise not to bank on him as frequently as in years past.
His first sentence basically debunks his whole take.
"The Titans offense goes through Henry, even if Tennessee proved it could win games without him last season."
If Tennessee's offense runs through Henry, then how in the world can he be overvalued?
Sure, the Titans managed without Henry last season. But even though they were the No. 1 seed in the AFC last year, no one viewed them as the favorites in the playoffs because the team wasn't operating at full strength without Henry.
If the Titans would've had a healthy Henry last season, perhaps the conversation around Tennessee this offseason would be much different.
When Henry returned to the Titans in the playoffs against the Cincinnati Bengals he clearly wasn't at his best. That's because he missed two months of action and was a bit rusty. If that would've been "normal" Henry in the playoffs, the Titans probably beat the Bengals and who knows what happens from there (the Joe Burrow hype train is likely still at the station if that would've been the case).
There's no doubt that plenty of NFL running backs are overvalued, but Henry isn't a typical NFL running back. There aren't many who can take over a game like Henry with his rare combination of size, physicality, and speed. That's why I can't co-sign on Kerr's view that Henry is overvalued.
Featured image via Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
