Over the last decade, Derrick Henry has been the gold standard for running backs in the NFL. Even as the league moved away from the ground game, Henry carved out his niche with the Tennessee Titans and delivered some spectacular seasons for the franchise that drafted him with the 45th overall pick in 2016.
King Henry’s resume has made him one of the most decorated running backs of this generation. But another player has copied his style almost perfectly and gone relatively unnoticed by the general public. However, one rival executive is starting to see the resemblance between the two, and it might not be long before the whole world does.
Who Else Has Perfected the Derrick Henry Style?
Since coming into the league as a second-round pick in 2020, Jonathan Taylor has been one of the most consistently productive running backs in the league. His historic 2021 season saw him lead the NFL in both rushing yards (1,811) and touchdowns (18).
Taylor earned two Pro Bowl selections and an All-Pro nod in that breakout campaign. He’s been one of the lone bright spots on the Indianapolis Colts franchise since the days of Peyton Manning slinging the football downfield. The Wisconsin product has rushed for over 1,000 yards in three of his five NFL seasons.
However, even with his stacked resume, Taylor isn’t seen in the upper tier when it comes to running backs. In his ranking of running backs entering the 2025 season, Jeremy Fowler put him at the seventh spot, behind Josh Jacobs and Bijan Robinson.
After going for 1,431 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2024, it feels criminal to have Taylor this low on the list. He remains on an Adrian Peterson pace with 6,013 yards on the ground and 51 total touchdowns through his first five NFL seasons. Peterson had 6,752 rushing yards and 64 total touchdowns in his first five years.
Why Do Executives See Taylor as the Next Henry?
For one AFC executive, the description of the Colts’ superstar is simple. “He’s underrated. Highly productive and can wear you down before breaking off a big run.” If that sounds like a familiar game plan, that’s because it matches the strategy Henry uses perfectly.
The comparison didn’t escape Fowler’s notice. After ranking Henry second, he described what an AFC executive said about his play style in nearly identical terms. “He’s a monster. No one wants to tackle him, and then when he wears you down, that’s when he breaks off that big run.”
The style has been effective for both players. As Fowler noted, “Taylor’s 24 career games of 100 rushing yards since 2020 trail only Henry’s 37.”
Both runners share similar physical traits: Henry at 6’2″ and around 247 pounds, Taylor at 5’10” and 226 pounds. They use their size to punish defenders early in games before breaking away for big gains when defenses wear down. Henry perfected this approach during his peak years in Tennessee when he led the NFL in rushing yards twice in 2019 and 2020.
NFL rushing yards per game leaders in 2024:
1. Saquon Barkley – 125.3
2. Derrick Henry – 113.0
3. Jonathan Taylor – 102.2
4. Bijan Robinson – 85.6
5. Jahmyr Gibbs – 83.1
Will JT take the đŸ‘‘ in 2025? pic.twitter.com/dMK7ZirMTA
— The Colts Cast (@TheColtsCast) February 17, 2025
The numbers back up the executive’s assessment. In 2024, Henry finished second in the league in rushing yards per game at 113.0, while Taylor ranked third at 102.2. Only Saquon Barkley’s monster season with the Philadelphia Eagles topped both.
Taylor’s 2024 campaign marked a return to form after missing significant time in 2022 and 2023 due to injuries and contract disputes. He played in 14 games after only missing time with a high ankle sprain, showing the durability that made him so valuable early in his career.
If Taylor can stay healthy and Indianapolis can figure out its quarterback situation to make it back to the playoffs, maybe his game will get more recognition in the mainstream. The Colts haven’t made the postseason since 2020, Taylor’s rookie year, when they lost in the Wild Card round.
