Derrick Henry

Derrick Henry enters the 2025 fantasy football season as one of the most reliable and dominant running backs in the league, especially after his impressive 2024 campaign with the Baltimore Ravens. Coming off a near-2,000-yard season where he averaged 5.9 yards per carry and scored 18 touchdowns, Henry has solidified his role as the Ravens’ primary rusher. The team showed its confidence in his abilities by awarding him a two-year, $30 million extension, ensuring he remains a focal point of their run-heavy offense. At 30 years old, Henry continues to defy the typical decline seen in running backs of his age, maintaining elite production and durability.

Henry’s role in Baltimore’s offense is expected to stay largely unchanged, with the Ravens leveraging his physical style and utilizing a strong offensive scheme under playcaller Todd Monken. While younger backs like Keaton Mitchell are recovering from injury and serving as change-of-pace options, Henry's dominance on early downs is unlikely to diminish. His chemistry with MVP-caliber quarterback Lamar Jackson and the team’s run-centric approach create ideal conditions for sustained high performance. Fantasy experts consider him a top pick in the early second round due to his consistent high touch volume and ability to break big plays.

Despite Henry's remarkable longevity and productivity, the concern most analysts have is the inevitable toll that such an extensive career workload will eventually take on him. However, predicting exactly when that might happen remains elusive. For now, projections suggest Henry will still easily clear 1,200 to 1,500 rushing yards in 2025, with a repeat at or near 2,000 yards entirely possible if he stays healthy and the offense continues to operate efficiently. His elite yards-over-expected and explosive rush rate underscore his continued ability to outperform typical running backs, reinforcing his value as a top fantasy asset.

For fantasy managers, Henry is a compelling value, especially compared to other top backs like Saquon Barkley, who often garner more attention. Henry missed the 2,000-yard mark by just 79 yards in 2024 yet scored nearly as many fantasy points, highlighting his strong production at a slightly later age. Given his consistent top-five fantasy finishes over recent seasons and the strong supporting cast around him, Henry remains a safe and potent draft choice in 2025. The main risk, as with all running backs, is injury, but with no significant concerns reported entering the season, Henry’s outlook is confidently optimistic for fantasy football success this year.

Updated 08/23/2025