by TreVeyon Henderson only needed a few preseason plays to convince fantasy football players to believe in him.
As the preseason draws to a close and the regular season approaches, the Patriots rookie running back has swiftly gained popularity as a selection in fantasy football drafts. Henderson’s average draft position as of Sunday, according to ESPN, is 52.2 (in point per reception leagues). The average improvement in draft position over the past seven days is about 15 spots, which is the seventh-highest among all players during that time.
Field Yates, a fantasy football analyst, said earlier in the week that Henderson’s average draft position was 60.3, adding that he had climbed by more than 20 spots the week before.
The Athletic reports that as of August, Henderson’s average draft position in National Fantasy Football Championship leagues was 60.47. As of Friday, that has improved to 37.42.
Henderson has also seen a comparable increase in Yahoo Sports leagues. In half-point per reception leagues, Henderson’s average draft position increased to 51 during the past seven days from 67.5 at the start of the preseason.
In Yahoo Sports leagues, the rookie has typically been selected as the 20th running back. Rhamondre Stevenson, who has typically been selected as the 36th running back in Yahoo Sports leagues, is ranked higher than that. The Patriots’ unofficial depth chart ranks Stevenson as their top running back, although he was recently sidelined by an unspecified injury. During the regular season, he is not anticipated to miss any time.
Although Stevenson is classified as the Patriots’ number one running back, Henderson has risen in fantasy football drafts because Yates thinks he is just the superior player.
He is a more proficient receiver. He excels in protecting passes. Yates recently declared on ESPN’s fantasy football show that this man is a stud. His average draft position (ADP) in fantasy football this preseason is probably among the highest.
WBZpic.twitter.com/NcT2a635nx @TreVeyonH4|@NFL: THE FIRST TIME HE TOUCHED THE BALL
Yates believes that Henderson’s increase in fantasy football drafts may possibly be due to strategy.
TreVeyon Henderson was selected by someone who picked No. 32 in our 10-team mock draft, meaning that person won’t pick again until No. 48, according to Yates. That’s pretty early, I told myself. However, he stated that he will not be defeated in the fifth round. It’s accurate.
You don’t avoid that guy if you’re picking on the extreme or the other side and you have a target you desire. When you return, that player is probably not going to be there.
Adam Schefter, an ESPN NFL insider, too seems to believe that Henderson’s ascent up the selection boards is warranted. One of the few running backs selected in the middle rounds of fantasy football drafts who have the potential to outperform their average draft position is the Patriots rookie, he noted.
This preseason, he showed speed, elusiveness, and big-play potential. He will work alongside Rhamondre Stevenson. Schefter wrote.
Henderson just rose from the 24th-best running back to the 18th-best running back for 2025 at Matthew Berry’s Fantasy Life, a longtime fantasy football specialist.
Matthew Freedman stated, “I must admit that the second-round rookie has looked electric in the preseason, even though I still think veteran Rhamondre Stevenson will have a large backfield role.” Henderson might be a powerful producer even in a part-time capacity, like De Von Achane in 2023 and Alvin Kamara in 2017.
Henderson’s propensity to create explosive plays was evident during the preseason, as Freedman noted. When he returned a kickoff against the Commanders 100 yards, he converted it into his first (unofficial) NFL touchdown. He rushed for an eight-yard touchdown against the Vikings after taking off for an 18-yard run that game. During the Patriots-Vikings joint workouts in Minnesota, Henderson stole the show with a grab that he converted into a long score.
Henderson’s ability to play like that in games that matter is still unknown. If he does, Patriots supporters may have to add Henderson to their fantasy football teams even earlier in the upcoming season.
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