Darrell Henderson Fantasy Outlook Improving as Rams Beat Writer Projects Big Volume

With the physical breakdown of star running back Todd Gurley late last season, the Los Angeles Rams opted to draft running back Darrell Henderson in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Touted as a dual threat out of the backfield, a Rams beat writer has recently projected Henderson's role as a rookie to include nine to 12 touches per game. That volume is encouraging for his fantasy football value.

Henderson was already a 2019 breakout candidate thanks to all of the news regarding the arthritis in Gurley's knees. Now, it appears Henderson will have value week-to-week regardless of Gurley's health.

In his final season at Memphis, Henderson ran for 1,909 yards and 22 touchdowns, averaging 8.9 yards per rush. Operating as a relief and a change-of-pace to Gurley, Henderson will get to run behind last season's top-ranked run-blocking offensive line. The unit posted a league-best 5.49 adjusted line yards per rush in 2018. We saw how effective he was breaking off big plays in college, so we should expect more of the same behind this line.

Henderson is currently being selected as RB37 (86 overall), according to FantasyPros' average draft position (ADP) data. 50 running backs averaged at least 10 touches per game in 2018, but he has the big-play ability and a strong enough offense around him that his per-touch numbers could still bring some big upside. And that's before we factor in how high his ceiling can be if Gurley misses time. That could point to Henderson being undervalued in 2019 fantasy football drafts.

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