Derrick Henry vs Aston Jeanty - Who Should I Draft in Fantasy Football?
We pit expert vs. expert as we debate 2025's biggest early-draft question: Ashton Jeanty or Derrick Henry?
Think of this as your last two brains cells duking it out while you’re on the clock. Sam Wallace and Cooterdoodle are here to do the dirty work for you.
Ashton Jeanty or Derrick Henry?
Readyyyyyyy? FIGHT!
Cooterdoodle: So we’re faced with the age old question: Can we ignore Derrick Henry’s age or is he just old. You know, this is going to shock those of you who’ve heard me drooling over rookies all summer long, but let’s just rip this bandaid off. I’ll say it. I’m taking old man Henry in this scenario. It’s not an easy decision by any means, but that’s my call and I’m sticking to it. Sam, are you with me or are you with me?
Sam: I honestly love picking second because no one will ever know who I would have gone with had I picked first. This is shaping up to be a good one, Cooterdoodle, and I'm excited to see where we land on this. You can go ahead and take the 31-year old RB (I didn't even know they allowed those in the league). I'm riding with someone born this century, the 21-year old generational talent that is Jeanty.
Cooterdoodle: Age isn’t always a bad thing. Derrick Henry knows what it was like to have to wait all day for his favorite song to play on the radio. It’s probably why he’s so patient behind the line when finding the right hole for his next touchdown. But I digress!
Before we get into the stats *pushes up glasses* We need to talk about Henry’s body and mind. You see, when people talk about Tom Brady’s legacy, many say that his determination and commitment to the game (sorry, Gisele) played a major role in his success. Henry, to me, is similar to Brady in that aspect. He isn’t just talented (he is), but he’s devoted to a body care regimen that costs upward of $250,000 a year. So yes, Henry might be 31 on paper, but I’d argue that his body is still running on pure gasoline.
OH! So like I was saying, the stats… Fantasy managers have claimed that Henry’s best days are behind him for YEARS now, especially after his “disappointing” 219-937-10 season in 2021. (Ha. That was his down year) And yet… King Henry keeps on proving them wrong.
But do you know who hasn’t proven anything in the NFL yet?
Sam: I do appreciate the not-so-subtle dig of that last sentence, yet I can't argue with the facts. You're right, Cooterdoodle, Jeanty hasn't played a snap in a meaningful NFL game, yet, but it's that "power of yet" that is keeping me and everyone else coming back to draft him again and again.
Candidly, I immediately went looking to see where these stud RBs were being drafted, trying to eek out any edge I could. The results were…mixed.
As of this writing, both Jeanty (RB5) and Henry (RB6) are early Round 2 picks on Underdog. Even our own Ian Hartitz has Henry (RB6) and Jeanty (RB7) as solid Tier 2 RBs.
So let me highlight a key reason why I prefer Jeanty over Henry – involvement in the passing game.
Catching the ball out of the backfield has never been part of Henry's game. He has just two seasons with more than 20 receptions. Our own brilliant minds over at Fantasy Life project Henry to have 18 receptions while Jeanty is sitting at a nice 50.
As someone who primarily plays in PPR formats, when players are close in terms of projected point totals, I tend to lean towards the player who offers more pass-catching upside.
Cooterdoodle: Fair point, Sam. Even the analysts are torn on the King and the youngster. So how are we going to make this decision for anyone? Perhaps it comes down to a few final questions:
- Can you handle the pressure of drafting a rookie on an offense that has a lot of question marks? New quarterback, new coaching staff, and a running back new to the NFL?
- Can you handle the pressure of drafting a veteran that eventually has to hit his age cliff? The sand of time keeps falling through the hourglass whether we like it or not.
- Is the upside of a generational fresh-legged talent enough to ignore the fact that the Raiders’ implied team point total this year is nearly the worst in the league?
- Is the upside of a consistent workhorse in Henry enough to miss out on your chance at going all in on Jeanty this year? In other words, can you handle the FOMO if Jeanty dominates?
Sure, we could talk about Lamar Jackson’s rushing as a threat. Or we could ruminate over Jeanty’s 3 carries for -1 yard in his first preseason game and what that might mean for the Raiders’ o-line. But maybe there is no right answer, Sam. Maybe there never was.
Perhaps this is more about the style of fantasy player that you are at your core, what risks you're willing to take, what gambles you want to make, and where your processes lie. (Sorry, I got a little longwinded there. Almost as long as Henry’s 87-yard touchdown against the Bills in Week 4 last season.)
Sam: Maybe the right answer isn't something that can be found in the midst of our humble ramblings. Maybe the real prize is the friends we made along the way.
Or something like that.
I'm probably going to regret betting against The King but, on principle, I want my RBs to be born this millennium. I know the Raiders don't project to be very good, and they play in a brutal division. Even so, the offense is going to funnel through Jeanty and he doesn't have 2,355 career rushing attempts of wear and tear on his body.
400 total opportunities (rushing attempts & targets) is on the table for Jeanty this season. We all know volume is the true "king" in fantasy football.
The age difference and involvement in the passing game are enough of a tie-breaker for me. Maybe we need to put some skin in the game in the form of a friendly wager…
Have any ideas for Sam and Cooterdoodle’s side bet?
