• Henry’s age makes no distinction: The 31-year-old posted the best PFF general and dashing grades of his profession in 2024.
• Henry surpasses Saquon Barkley in a number of areas: Henry beat out Barkley in yards after contact per try (3.50 to three.17), compelled missed tackles per try (0.25 to 0.18) and PFF dashing grade (93.1 to 85.6), amongst different classes.
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PFF’s award winners are chosen by a voting course of unique to twenty-eight senior analysts, contributors and members of the PFF employees, making certain the choices replicate the insights and experience of these deeply concerned within the sport.
This yr’s Greatest Runner is Derrick Henry, who earned 14 votes to say the dignity. The runner-up was Saquon Barkley with 13 votes, whereas Josh Jacobs rounded out the highest three with one vote.
Whether or not it’s an 87-yard gallop to the top zone to open a sport or a 43-yard dash to shut out a division title, Derrick Henry is able to shutting the door on any unsuspecting protection.
At 31 years previous, Henry earns PFF’s “Greatest Runner” award following the 2024 NFL common season.
Henry, appropriately nicknamed “King Henry,” joined the Baltimore Ravens this offseason on a modest two-year, $16 million deal after eight years with the Tennessee Titans, having already established himself as one of many sport’s greatest working backs of all time.
For Henry, this season — in a brand new atmosphere — was about turning again the clock. And 18 weeks later, his 93.1 PFF dashing grade suggests he’s removed from succumbing to the wear and tear and tear that always derails a working again’s profession by age 30.
Highest PFF Speeding Grades by RBs Aged 30 or Older (Since 2006)
| Participant | Age (Season)* | PFF Speeding Grade |
| Derrick Henry | 30 (2024) | 93.1 |
| Raheem Mostert | 31 (2023) | 91.3 |
| Fred Taylor | 31 (2007) | 89.4 |
*Age at begin of season
The 2016 second-round draft decide completed the common season with PFF’s highest general and dashing grades amongst working backs. He additionally tallied essentially the most yards after contact, compelled missed tackles and first-down runs.
His 1,137 yards after contact had been greater than all however eight working backs recorded general — earlier than contact, after contact or with no contact.
This yr was nothing new for Henry, who has now thrice earned a 90.0-plus PFF general grade in a season, however his 94.1 mark is a career-high. He by no means earned a sport grade under 60.0 this season — a primary within the veteran’s nine-year NFL tenure.
This season wasn’t with out challenges. Henry needed to regulate to extra lure, energy and pull-lead runs in a brand new offense. The shift didn’t faze him, as he earned a league-high 93.1 PFF dashing grade on such performs.
| Season | Lure % | Energy % | Pull Lead % |
| 2024 | 3% | 12% | 10% |
| 2023 | 1% | 7% | 3% |
| 2022 | 1% | 7% | 4% |
| 2021 | 1% | 6% | 7% |
Subsequent to Henry within the dialog for the league’s greatest working again this season was Saquon Barkley. His record-breaking marketing campaign deserves its kudos, too, with the first-year Philadelphia Eagle changing into simply the ninth working again in NFL historical past to eclipse 2,000 dashing yards in a season. However Barkley fell in need of Henry in a number of underlying sides, together with yards after contact per try (3.50 to three.17), compelled missed tackles per try (0.25 to 0.18) and PFF dashing grade (93.1 to 85.6). He additionally ran behind PFF’s top-ranked offensive line.
Ultimately, King Henry answered all questions that arose when the Ravens signed him this offseason.
A brand new group? Considerations about his age? One of many hardest defensive schedules within the NFL? New run ideas? None of it mattered.
The King reigned supreme.
