Chris Simms Claims Derrick Henry is This Year’s MVP

Derrick Henry has been on an absolute tear, rushing under 75 yards just three times this season. His rampage on the league carries over from his unrelenting stretch last season. After averaging 72 yards a game over his first nine contests, he went ballistic and averaged 149 yards in the final nine games including the playoffs.

Now, after being named second-team All Pro, he’s building his case for league MVP.

Chris Simms spoke on his show, Chris Simms Unbuttoned for NBC Sports, to make the argument for Henry to be crowned MVP.

“Derrick Henry is just a specimen of specimens,” Simms said. “He’s getting into the category of not only a really good running back for our era. He’s starting to become one of the better running backs we’ve ever seen in the history of the NFL.”

He would later compare him to Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Earl Campbell and Jim Brown.


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Henry currently leads the NFL in rushing with 1,317 yards. Only Dalvin Cook has over 1,000 yards. He is second in the league in touchdowns with 12 and second in yards per game while boasting a 4.9 yards per carry average despite a league-high 271 attempts.

On top of the monster numbers, he’s also had some heroics up his sleeve. Most notably, his 29-yard touchdown run in overtime to defeat the Baltimore Ravens. The Tennessee Titans are currently 8-4, holding onto the fourth seed over the 8-4 Indianapolis Colts.

“Right now, it’s a three man race for MVP,” Simms continued. “It’s Henry, Mahomes and Rodgers. The quarterback on the best team is always an MVP candidate. But what if the quarterback isn’t the focal point of that offense?”

The last time a running back won MVP was in 2012 when Adrian Peterson rushed eight yards short of the single season rushing record, a record that has stood the test of time since 1984. 15 running backs have won the award, the second most awarded position in history behind quarterbacks. QBs have won the award 28 times.


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