Derrick Henry is a force to be reckoned with.
After seven games, Henry has proven his worth on the field, justifying the two-year, $16 million contract he signed in the offseason. Despite Cowboys owner Jerry Jones claiming that Henry “didn’t fit” into Mike McCarthy’s offensive scheme or the team’s salary cap, he has emerged as one of the best bargains of the season.
Leading the league in rushing yards with 873 and rushing touchdowns with 8, Henry boasts an impressive average of 6.5 yards per carry.
At 30 years old, a time when many running backs see a decline in performance, Henry shows no signs of slowing down. He is on track to challenge Eric Dickerson’s long-standing single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards set in 1984. Four years ago, Henry achieved a remarkable 2,027 rushing yards during a 16-game season with the Tennessee Titans, raising the question: could he do it again?
Despite his impressive statistics, Henry faces a significant challenge in his quest to become the first non-quarterback to win the NFL MVP award since Adrian Peterson in 2012. Last season, Christian McCaffrey led the league in scrimmage yards and total touchdowns but finished third in the MVP voting.
This week, Henry’s MVP odds improved from 50/1 to 40/1, and he is currently favored to win the Offensive Player of the Year award, a title he previously earned in 2020 after his 2,000-yard rushing season.
Lamar Jackson has now overtaken Patrick Mahomes as the frontrunner for the MVP award, while Jared Goff made significant strides, moving from 18/1 to 8.5/1 in the odds.
Here are the top five MVP candidates for Week 8.
1. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
Current MVP Odds: +225 (bet $10 to win $32.50 total)
2. Josh Allen, Bills
Current MVP Odds: +500 (bet $10 to win $60 total)
The acquisition of Amari Cooper from the Cleveland Browns enhances Allen’s offensive options. They will face a tough challenge against the Seattle Seahawks, coached by defensive strategist Mike Macdonald.
3. Derrick Henry, Ravens
Current MVP Odds: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total)
Henry is making waves in Baltimore’s offense, with 10 rushes of 20 or more yards this season. Throughout his career, he has recorded 18 rushes of at least 50 yards, ranking behind only Adrian Peterson and Barry Sanders.
Next Gen Stats reveal that Henry has been contacted behind the line of scrimmage only 36.6% of the time, marking his lowest rate since 2016.
4. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
Current MVP Odds: +450 (bet $10 to win $55 total)
Mahomes has been precise when it counts the most.
In the fourth quarter, he has completed 72% of his passes for 266 yards, with one touchdown and no interceptions. This year, he recognizes that the defense is taking the lead for Kansas City, and his role is to manage the game effectively.
With the arrival of receiver DeAndre Hopkins, Mahomes gains another weapon.
5. Jared Goff, Lions
Current MVP Odds: +850 (bet $10 to win $95 total)
Goff’s resurgence in Detroit is evident, as he is enjoying the best season of his career. His passer rating (111.5), completion percentage (73.6), and yards per attempt (9.3) are all at career highs.
He has excelled with play-action passes, completing 48 of 63 attempts for 708 yards, along with one touchdown and one interception.
Honorable mention: Jayden Daniels, Sam Darnold, C.J. Stroud, Jordan Love, Baker Mayfield
