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

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in NFL Football

Updated May 10, 2019 · 9:09 AM PDT

Darrell Henderson
Continued concerns about the lingering knee injury to Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley have boosted the NFL OROY odds of Darrell Henderson. Photo by @Lakers_newsnow (Twitter)
  • 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.

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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

Player 2019 NFL OROY Odds at BookMaker
Kyler Murray +213
Dwayne Haskins +817
Josh Jacobs +843
Mecole Hardman +1445
N’Keal Harry +1673
David Montgomery +1742
Miles Sanders +1866
Marquise Brown +2085
TJ Hockenson +2085
Deebo Samuel +2085
Darrell Henderson +2532

*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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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