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LMU93
He needs to prove he can stay healthy and be counted on. No question.
But from an ability standpoint, there's also no question he has it. Two analytics sources- PFF and Football Outsiders- both rated him actually higher overall than Akers in 2020.
PFF gave Henderson an 80.4 grade for the season (11th out of 70 RBs). Akers graded 75.7 (22nd out of 70).
Football Outsiders graded Henderson 9th among 47 RBs with 100+ touches. Akers 41st.
I'm not dismissing Akers at all. I'm sick at losing him and was confident he was going to be a 1,300+ yards guy in 2021. Highly doubt Henderson can do that. But he can and should be productive. The key is having a competent RB2 to go along with him that can give them 100+ carries.
I agree that Henderson can be productive. I also agree that Henderson is not likely to match Akers's projected numbers for 2021. I don't agree with the sources that ranked Akers lower than him. Maybe that was just an effect of Akers being slower to catch on as a rookie in a season that had no training camp, so it's based on numbers alone and not much actual observation of Akers when he played. Anyway Akers is the more all-around gifted back. That doesn't make Henderson chopped liver but Akers, just on talent alone, should rank as the better back.
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