Derrick Henry remains one of fantasy football’s most polarizing running backs heading into 2025, with his draft position swinging dramatically based on your league’s scoring format.
The Baltimore Ravens’ bulldozer continues to defy Father Time, but his limited pass-catching role creates a clear divide among fantasy managers. Should fantasy managers be targeting or fading “Tractorcito?”
The Format Factor: Why Scoring Matters for Derrick Henry
Henry’s average draft position tells the complete story of his fantasy value in 2025. According to PFSN’s Fantasy Football Mock Draft Simulator, he jumps from 13th overall in full-PPR formats to eighth in standard scoring leagues.
This five-spot swing represents one of the largest ADP gaps among elite running backs, highlighting exactly what type of player you’re drafting.
The volume remains Henry’s calling card. Since joining Baltimore in 2024, he has carried the ball 67 more times than any other running back league-wide.
Derrick Henry (9)
Baltimore Ravens
7 yards
pic.twitter.com/mOPcxd2W4Q— NFL Touchdown Videos (@NFLTDsVideos) October 13, 2024
That workload translates directly to fantasy points in standard formats, where each carry holds equal weight to receptions. Henry has also found the end zone with remarkable consistency, recording double-digit rushing touchdowns in seven consecutive seasons.
However, his receiving numbers paint a different picture entirely. Throughout his 136-game career, Henry has managed just 174 receptions. To put that in perspective, he has accumulated the exact same number of career runs of 13-plus yards. The comparison illustrates Henry’s one-dimensional approach perfectly.
The Monken Effect
Baltimore’s offensive coordinator, Todd Monken, has further limited Henry’s aerial involvement. In 2024, under Monken’s system, Henry averaged just one target for every 14.8 carries.
This represents a significant decline from his final two seasons in Tennessee, where he saw one target per 8.2 carries. The reduced passing game role directly impacts his PPR ceiling.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson’s dual-threat ability also affects Henry’s target share. Jackson frequently checks down to tight ends or keeps the ball himself on designed runs, leaving fewer opportunities for Henry in the passing attack.
The Sleeper Verdict
Henry qualifies as a sleeper candidate specifically in standard scoring formats, where his ADP fails to reflect his touchdown upside and guaranteed volume. Fantasy managers often overthink the modern NFL’s pass-heavy trends, but Henry proves that old-school ground-and-pound production still wins championships.
His durability at age 31 defies conventional wisdom about running back longevity. While others his age battle injuries or reduced roles, Henry continues operating as Baltimore’s primary offensive weapon. Smart fantasy managers should target him earlier in standard leagues than his ADP suggests, particularly when other managers focus heavily on pass-catching backs.
Henry won’t win you weeks with explosive receiving performances, but his floor remains among the position’s highest when touchdowns matter most.
