Darrell Henderson

Rams HC Sean McVay says that Rams RB Darrell Henderson will not be seen in a preseason game and will not take any chances with his new RB1.

Fantasy Impact

Henderson will now be taking over as the Rams RB1 this season after a devastating injury to RB Cam Akers. McVay went on to say that it has never been an "ability" question about Henderson and more about keeping him available. McVay believes that Henderson is an every-down back but has to make sure he is durable, thus no preseason games for him. Henderson has a great opportunity to break out, if he can stay on the field. These quotes are very positive and show the trust McVay has in the 3rd-year running back. His ADP is already starting to climb, but he will be worth the cost if he stays healthy.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports the Rams believe in Darrell Henderson and do not intend on pursuing a free-agent running back at this time.

Fantasy Impact

With the crushing news of Cam Akers' likely season-ending injury, Henderson is now slated to be the No. 1 running back for the Rams this season. The depth chart behind the third-year pro is significantly lacking and fantasy managers should expect the Rams to add another veteran to help carry the load at some point before the season. Still, Henderson figures to get the first shot to lead this backfield and will presumably receive the most touches. The Rams' offense is shaping up to be an explosive one, especially with the addition of Matthew Stafford at quarterback. Henderson was the RB24 in Weeks 1-11, before Akers ascended to the top of the depth chart. During that time, the former Tiger was sharing work with Malcolm Brown, who is now in Miami, which only increases the possibility of a significant workload. Henderson showed improvement in year two last season, increasing his yards per carry average from 3.8 in 2019 to 4.5 in 2020. He also showed promise catching the ball, averaging a healthy 9.9 yards per reception. Fantasy managers will need to continue to monitor developments and news out of Los Angeles, but right now Henderson should be treated as a back-end RB2 with upside playing for what is likely to be a high-scoring Rams' offense.

Cam Akers may be the Rams' lead running back, but there is plenty of room for Darrell Henderson to get involved, too. Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic says she "can especially see Henderson working into the passing game more often."

Fantasy Impact

Injuries have been a concern for Henderson in the past, though he could have a significant role if he stays healthy. According to Rodrigue, new Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford "passed to running backs on about 20-22 percent of snaps last season, so McVay could incorporate more of that this fall." He ranks 47th among running backs in the latest rest-of-season expert consensus draft rankings.

The Rams placed RB Darrell Henderson on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain.

Fantasy Impact

Henderson will be sidelined until at least the NFC Championship game, should the Rams make it that far. Cam Akers (ankle) appears unlikely to play as well, which means Malcolm Brown should lead this backfield in touches against Arizona in Week 17. Jared Goff (thumb) won't start this one either, so expectations should be very tempered for LA's offense as a whole.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Rams RB Darrell Henderson is believed to have suffered a high-ankle sprain in Week 16.

Fantasy Impact

Henderson is undergoing tests to determine the severity of the injury but he isn't expected to be available for Week 17. Cam Akers is also dealing with a high-ankle sprain, which means Malcolm Brown could very much be on the fantasy radar next weekend. We'll monitor the practice reports for both Henderson and Akers this week.