Derrick Henry, the King himself, has been slain on the field of battle. Thankfully, it’s only a broken foot. Thankfully for the Tennessee Titans, it’s likely only for the rest of the regular season. For fantasy football teams that were relying on the massive back with a massive workload, Henry is done for the year. The King is dead.
**UPDATE** The Tennessee Titans have officially signed Adrian Peterson.
How will the Titans sort out their RB needs; and what exactly can you do to prepare for life without your RB1 who was on a historic run? Let’s have a quick look. According to league and Twitter docs alike, Henry suffered a Jones fracture in his right foot on Sunday. This is an injury that should sideline him for some time:
Derrick Henry broke 5th metatarsal in his foot, MRI will determine if surgery is needed or not and how long he will miss
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) November 1, 2021
The general consensus seems to be that Henry will miss at least eight weeks. This is convenient because it would put him on track to play in the NFL playoffs, should the Titans make it. With Wild Card Weekend 10 weeks away and the Titans firmly in control of the AFC South at the moment, Tennessee fans can at least hope for a swift recovery.
That’s the reality game. What about fantasy football?
First off, it’s important to understand that no RB is going to come in an replicate Henry’s success on the ground. All you have to do is watch him play to realize that his production is due as much to his mammoth frame and unique set of strength and speed as it is to offensive scheme and line play. The dude is just built different. Any running back coming in won’t put up kingly numbers.
Still, we are looking at a serviceable depth piece for our rosters. If you have a look around the league, there are some names floating around with little more than 24 hours until the NFL’s official trade deadline:
With the news of Titans’ RB Derrick Henry being out indefinitely, RBs that might be available via trade due to depth chart or team’s standing:
🏈Tevin Coleman
🏈David Johnson/Philip Lindsay
🏈Ty’Son Williams
🏈Melvin Gordon (unlikely)
🏈Ronald Jones
🏈Mike Davis
🏈Rashaad Penny— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 1, 2021
Realistically, no AFC contender is moving an RB to the Titans. I don’t see the Bucs sacrificing depth for a late-round pick by moving Rojo in the midst of another Super Bowl run. Of this list, I like the idea of a Texans back or Mike Davis. There may just be a better option out there that won’t require a trade at all:
The #Titans are expected to work out veteran RB Adrian Peterson this week, sources say, in the wake of the Derrick Henry foot injury. Tennessee could replace the MVP candidate with one of the greatest running backs of all time.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 1, 2021
If the Titans do indeed sign Peterson, his style seems to fit with what the team is used to with Henry. Though aging, we did see Peterson run as the head of a committee in Detroit last season with a fair amount of success.
The Titans schedule isn’t exactly favorable for running backs. They’ll face the Rams, Saints, Texans and Patriots before their bye. Then they play the Jaguars, Steelers and 49ers to close out the fantasy playoffs. At best, you’re looking at three usable weeks. Against Houston in Week 11, Jacksonville in Week 14 and the 49ers on championship weekend. All three matchups are also home games. Whoever lands in Tennessee should offer some value.
I’m picking up AP everywhere I can on fantasy football dynasty contenders and in redraft, especially before tonight’s game since. In some leagues, he can be had immediately for the price of a bye-week player or even a Chief or Giant sitting on your bench. Make a move before it’s too late in case Peterson gets signed this week.
Jeremy Shulman
Jeremy is an avid football fan from New York who lives in Amsterdam and roots for the Patriots. This walking contradiction has played fantasy football for over than 20 years. He is now a Senior Dynasty Writer at The League Winners. In his spare time, he writes and edits professionally.