Darrell Henderson’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds Improving With Growing Concern Over Gurley’s Knee

• There are growing concerns about the knee ailment of Los Angeles Rams RB Todd Gurley
• Does that make Rams rookie RB Darrell Henderson a better bet for NFL OROY?
• The Rams selected Henderson 70th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft

The original thinking was that the Los Angeles Rams drafted Memphis running back Darrell Henderson as an insurance policy. The knee injury that slowed Rams running back Todd Gurley late last season continues to bother him.

It could be that the choice of Henderson pays dividends for the Rams. Might it also pay off for you?

BookMaker currently lists Henderson at of +2532 in the sportsbook’s NFL offensive rookie of the year odds.

2019 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Odds

*Odds taken 05/10/19. Follow the link in the table above for a complete list of all players.

The last four NFL OROY have all been running backs, a run that started with Gurley in 2016.

Is Gurley No Longer the Man?

There are concerns that Gurley’s left knee problem is not an ailment that will ultimately heal, and is in fact arthritis. His workload last season certainly took a nosedive in the second half of the campaign.

Todd Gurley has arthritis in the same knee that underwent ACL repair in 2014, per @jeffphowe pic.twitter.com/IGEXmjVia6

— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) March 2, 2019

Gurley carried the ball 20 or more times in five of LA’s first eight games. Over the final nine games, including postseason play, he lugged the ball over 20 times only once. CJ Anderson was signed and frequently spelled Gurley in the backfield.

Gurley missed two games due to the injury.

Opportunity Knocking for Henderson?

Running backs are the M&M’s of pro football. When you put them out there, they are delightful but they sure don’t last long.

In the past decade, just two running backs have led the NFL in rushing multiple times.

In the past decade, just two running backs – Ezekiel Elliott (2016, 2018) and Adrian Peterson (2012, 2015) – have led the NFL in rushing multiple times.

Darrell Henderson's long-term fantasy stock is sky high with the Rams!

PFF's @ScottBarrettDFB breaks down what the new Rams RB brings to the table and why he's an excellent long-term fantasy assethttps://t.co/7iiQv4irjk pic.twitter.com/8KKwk4YdU0

— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) May 9, 2019

These days, most NFL teams operate with multiple situational backs. Gurley was an old-school throwback, a guy who lugged the rock all day and never seemed to waver.

This season, it’s logical to suspect that his workload will diminish and that certainly presents a scenario where Henderson could shine.

Rams ran outside zone 217 times during 2018 regular season – 52 more than any other team

Darrell Henderson on outside zone last two years:
53 Attempts
569 Yards
10.7 YPC (led nation)
7.0 YAC/Attempt (led nation)
23 First downs
16 broken tackles

— Mike Renner (@mikerenner_) May 8, 2019

The Rams view him as a change-of-pace back. He’s a shifty runner who makes tacklers miss. Henderson scored 25 touchdowns at Memphis last season, 22 on the ground. He averaged 8.9 yards per carry.

You Should Run with Other Guys

Based on recent history, it makes sense to back an RB for NFL OROY. Based on the way it sounds like the Rams will operate their offense, it doesn’t make sense that Henderson should be the guy you back.

Yessirr Congrats Bro‼️#DreamsToReality https://t.co/gF7NNcFbjC

— Todd Gurley II (@TG3II) April 27, 2019

At 5’8″ and 208 pounds, he’s not built to be a workhorse. Henderson will be an ideal complementary back in an NFL scheme, sharing time with Gurley and Malcolm Brown.

Malcolm Brown ended last year on IR, but his potential has the Rams believing in him. Averaging almost 5 yards per carry will do that. Now, he’s sticking around. https://t.co/5Rfbd9gTPi

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 22, 2019

The running backs you should put your money on are Josh Jacobs of the Raiders or David Montgomery of the Bears.