Derrick Henry’s Low Fantasy Football Ranking Surprises Fans Despite Clear Role as Baltimore Ravens’ Offensive Workhorse in 2025 Season
Baltimore Ravens’ Derrick Henry receives underwhelming fantasy ranking heading into the 2025 NFL season, and the response from fans, analysts, and fantasy football veterans has been swift and divided. One of the league’s most physically dominant and consistent running backs over the last half-decade, Henry finds himself ranked outside the top 10 in many fantasy football projections for the upcoming season. This comes despite his high-profile signing with the Ravens this past offseason, a move that many believed would reinvigorate both his career and Baltimore’s already formidable ground game.
The initial reaction from many fantasy managers is confusion. How does a back who has led the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns multiple times fall so far in projections now that he’s in a run-heavy system next to a dual-threat quarterback like Lamar Jackson? On paper, it looks like an ideal pairing. But fantasy football is often about perception, and Henry’s recent slide in rankings seems to reflect skepticism about usage, age, and the uncertainty of shared touches in a crowded offense.
At 31, Henry is entering what many consider the twilight of a running back’s prime. Fantasy analysts have historically been cautious with backs beyond the age of 30, citing declining efficiency, increased injury risk, and reduced volume. Even for a physical anomaly like Henry—who has shown remarkable durability and production into his late 20s—the age narrative carries weight in projection models. But this particular ranking may not fully account for Henry’s expected workload or his unique situation in Baltimore.
While Henry may not be asked to carry the ball 350 times like he did during his peak in Tennessee, that doesn’t mean he won’t be a central figure in the Ravens’ offense. In fact, his role may be more efficient and better suited for longevity. Head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Todd Monken have made it clear: Henry was not brought in to be a backup or rotational piece. He’s here to be a tone-setter, a red zone threat, and a fourth-quarter closer. In football terms, he’s still the bell cow.
Fantasy-wise, that should translate to consistent usage, especially in scoring situations. Baltimore has long lacked a dependable red-zone running back who can punch the ball in from short yardage. Henry is perhaps the best in the league at doing just that. If he receives 15–20 touches per game and remains the go-to back near the goal line, the touchdowns alone could make him a weekly fantasy starter in standard formats—even if his total yardage dips compared to past seasons.
Critics of his fantasy outlook argue that Baltimore’s offensive balance could reduce Henry’s ceiling. Lamar Jackson is one of the most mobile quarterbacks in NFL history and often steals goal-line opportunities. There’s also the presence of other playmakers like Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, and tight end Mark Andrews, all of whom will command touches. The fear is that Henry will be one of many mouths to feed rather than the singular focal point like he was with the Titans.
But that argument overlooks the very thing that makes Baltimore so dangerous—and Henry’s fantasy value potentially underrated. With Jackson’s threat as a runner, defenses can’t sell out to stop Henry in the same way they could when he was the lone threat in Tennessee. That means lighter boxes, more open lanes, and more opportunities for chunk plays. In other words, fewer touches might still result in elite production if the quality of those touches remains high.
Another concern centers on Henry’s usage in the passing game, or rather, the lack thereof. He’s never been known as a prolific receiver, and that limits his ceiling in PPR (points per reception) formats. Justice Hill and rookie Keaton Mitchell may carve out roles as third-down backs, which could further reduce Henry’s total snap count. However, in half-PPR and standard scoring formats—where touchdowns and yardage matter most—Henry’s upside remains substantial.
Baltimore’s offensive scheme also supports the idea that Henry will be more involved than his fantasy ranking suggests. Under Monken, the Ravens have moved toward a more balanced attack, emphasizing play-action, motion, and multi-back formations. These concepts align perfectly with Henry’s skillset. He thrives in play-action scenarios, where linebackers are forced to respect the run, and gaps open for second-level runs. With Jackson freezing defenders with his legs, Henry could see more room to operate than he has in years.
Training camp reports and preseason insights have also pointed to Henry being in peak physical shape and taking first-team reps as the undisputed RB1. Coaches and teammates alike have praised his professionalism, work ethic, and ability to learn the Ravens’ complex offense. All signs point to him being ready to produce from Week 1. And for fantasy managers who’ve followed the league long enough, Henry has always been one of those players who can single-handedly win weeks with monster performances.
Despite this, fantasy platforms and analysts have ranked him behind younger, flashier backs like Jahmyr Gibbs, Travis Etienne, and even rookies like Trey Benson or Jonathon Brooks. While those backs bring youth and pass-catching prowess, they don’t all have Henry’s track record of reliability or goal-line dominance. It raises the question: are fantasy projections too focused on trends and age curves, and not enough on context and actual team roles?
Fantasy football is often a game of risk versus reward, and Henry now falls into the category of “value pick” rather than “early round lock.” That could be a huge opportunity for savvy fantasy managers. If he falls to the third or fourth round in most drafts, he might end up being one of the best draft-day bargains of the season. He’s not the trendy breakout pick or the upside rookie—but he might be the consistent scorer that championship teams are built around.
Looking at comparable situations, there are examples of veteran backs thriving in similar roles. Think of what Marshawn Lynch did in his later Seattle years, or what Adrian Peterson managed post-30 in Washington. Even Frank Gore had multiple 1,000-yard seasons well into his 30s because of his football IQ and physical conditioning. Henry, with his size, durability, and experience, fits that mold—only with more explosiveness.
For Ravens fans, the real-life impact of Henry matters more than fantasy points. His presence changes how opponents prepare for the team. He brings playoff experience, leadership, and a level of physicality that few defenders want to deal with over four quarters. But for fantasy football enthusiasts, the frustration lies in reconciling his real-world value with his underwhelming fantasy projections.
The truth likely lies somewhere in the middle. Henry may not return to 2,000-yard seasons or lead the league in carries. But if he’s healthy, running behind a solid offensive line, and taking advantage of defenses stretched thin by Lamar Jackson and the passing game, then 1,200–1,300 yards and double-digit touchdowns are entirely within reach. That kind of output isn’t just startable in fantasy football—it’s top-tier.
As the season nears, Henry’s ADP (average draft position) will be one of the most interesting storylines to monitor. Will fantasy managers trust the name and the history? Or will the age concerns and reduced workload talk scare people off? The answer could determine the fortunes of thousands of fantasy teams this year.
Ultimately, Derrick Henry is still Derrick Henry. He’s still the player who ran over defenders, broke 80-yard runs with ease, and delivered in fantasy playoffs when it mattered most. A change of scenery doesn’t change that, especially when the new scenery includes one of the NFL’s most dynamic quarterbacks and a system that fits like a glove. The ranking may be underwhelming, but the production won’t be. Fantasy football is often about upside—and few players offer the kind of week-winning upside that Henry does, even now.
