Eric Williams
NFL Reporter
He is a nasty man.
We’re speaking about Baltimore Ravens working again Derrick Henry — not a sure non-public detective out of your favourite Seventies motion film “Shaft.”
By seven video games, Henry has proven he is price each penny of the two-year, $16 million contract he signed in the course of the offseason. The truth is, he is one of many season’s greatest bargains, though Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones deemed Henry “did not match” in Mike McCarthy’s offense or below Dallas’ wage cap.
Henry leads the league in dashing (873) and dashing touchdowns (8). He is averaging a formidable 6.5 yard per carry.
And even at 30 years previous, thought-about the expiration date of working again longevity, Henry nonetheless looks as if he is bought loads of gasoline left within the tank. He is on tempo to interrupt Eric Dickerson’s single-season dashing file, set in 1984 (2,105 yards in 16 video games.) Can he do it? Do not forget that it was solely 4 years in the past when Henry rushed for two,027 yards in 16 video games for the Tennessee Titans.
And with Henry’s arrival, Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson has appeared to unlock yet one more stage in his otherworldly play. The reigning NFL MVP is placing collectively one other MVP-worthy season.
However even with Henry’s astounding numbers, it is nonetheless an uphill climb for the bruising working again to grow to be the primary non-quarterback to win the league MVP award since Adrian Peterson in 2012. Simply look to final season, when Christian McCaffrey led the league in scrimmage yards (2,023) and whole touchdowns (21), however completed third in MVP voting.
Henry’s MVP odds improved from 50/1 to 40/1 this week. And he is the favourite to win the league’s Offensive Participant of the 12 months, which he gained in 2020 on the power of his 2,000-yard dashing efficiency.
Jackson overtook Patrick Mahomes as the favourite to win the MVP award this week, whereas Jared Goff was the most important mover, going from 18/1 to eight.5/1.
This is my prime 5 for Week 8.
1. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
Present MVP Odds: +225 (guess $10 to win $32.50 whole
Henry’s dominant working and Jackson’s wizardry as a playmaker have led to 5 straight wins for Baltimore. Jackson leads the NFL with a 118.0 passer score and is tied for second in passing touchdowns (15). His 9.1 yards per try is second solely to Jared Goff’s 9.3.
One of many causes for Jackson’s success in pushing the ball down the sector has been Baltimore’s improved cross safety. Jackson’s 3.8% sack fee is among the many lowest within the league.
Will Lamar Jackson win his third MVP?
2. Josh Allen, Payments
Present MVP Odds: +500 (guess $10 to win $60 whole)
If Jackson weren’t taking part in so nicely, the NFL can be focusing extra consideration on Allen, who’s having an ideal yr. Allen has been environment friendly, finishing 63% of his passes for 1,453 yards, with 12 touchdowns and no interceptions in main Buffalo to a 5-2 file.
Including receiver Amari Cooper through commerce from the Cleveland Browns solely helps Allen & Co. They will get examined on Sunday by the Seattle Seahawks, led by defensive guru Mike Macdonald.
3. Derrick Henry, Ravens
Present MVP Odds: +4000 (guess $10 to win $410 whole)
The Ravens are creating explosive performs with Henry within the backfield, as he has 10 rushes of 20-plus yards this season. For his profession, he has 18 rushes of at the very least 50 yards, trailing solely Peterson (25) and Barry Sanders (24).
In response to Subsequent Gen Stats, Henry has been contacted behind the road of scrimmage simply 36.6% of the time, his lowest fee since 2016.
4. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
Present MVP Odds: +450 (guess $10 to win $55 whole))
The numbers proceed to look unimpressive: Mahomes is tied for the league lead with eight interceptions and has extra picks than landing passes (6).
However he has been surgical with the sport on the road.
Within the fourth quarter, Mahomes is 18-of-25 (72%) for 266 yards, with a landing and no interceptions. He understands that the protection is main Kansas Metropolis this yr and that he simply has to ensure he would not give the sport away.
And now Mahomes will get some assist with the addition of receiver DeAndre Hopkins.
Does buying and selling for DeAndre Hopkins clear up Chiefs’ offensive struggles?
5. Jared Goff, Lions
Present MVP Odds: +850 (guess $10 to win $95 whole)
The rebirth in Detroit continues for Goff, who’s having his finest season as a professional. His passer score (111.5), completion proportion (73.6) and yards per try (9.3) are all profession highs.
Goff has been significantly environment friendly on play-action passes. The Lions have used play-action on a league-high 35.2% of Goff’s dropbacks, and he has accomplished 48 of 63 passes for 708 yards, with a landing and an interception.
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, masking the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Comply with him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.
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