DARRELL HENDERSON JR. NEWS

Should maintain featured role Henderson is expected to remain the Rams' featured back Sunday against the Colts after playing 94 percent of the team's offensive snaps in the season opener, Cameron DaSilva of USA...

Impact Henderson was effective as the Rams' go-to running back Week 1, turning 17 touches into 87 total yards and a TD. Coach Sean McVay gave no indication that backup Sony Michel is going to usurp a larger portion of the backfield workload going forward, dispelling the idea that the balance would shift once Michel became more familiar with the Rams' playbook. "Darrell's a guy that's done a really nice job, and I was really pleased with how he got stronger as the game went on," McVay said of Henderson's performance against Chicago.

SEPTEMBER 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

FANTASY PLAYS: Players to start and sit for NFL Week 2

Despite Aaron Rodgers’ poor game in Week 1, the simulations are high on him to post a top-12 week against the Detroit Lions, who allowed Jimmy Garoppolo to throw for 314 yards on j...

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Steelers' Harris, Vikings' Thielen among best bets to score

It’s the second week of the NFL season, and scoring is already at a breakneck pace

SEPTEMBER 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dominates touches in victory Henderson rushed 16 times for 70 yards and a touchdown and caught his lone target for 17 yards in Sunday's 34-14 win over the Bears.

Impact Henderson started as expected following Cam Akers' (Achilles) season-ending injury this past offseason. The 24-year-old flourished in the role, showing an ability to pick up chunks of yards both between and outside of the tackles. Newcomer Sony Michel received only one carry late in the fourth quarter, so it appears that Henderson is the feature back for a potent Rams offense going forward, making him an appealing option against the Colts next Sunday.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

FANTASY PLAYS: Players to start and sit for NFL Week 1

The start-or-sit dilemma is part of managing a fantasy football team

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Recovers from thumb sprain Henderson (thumb) wasn't listed on the Rams' injury report Wednesday, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Impact Henderson has been dealing with a mild thumb sprain since suffering the injury Aug. 23 at practice. Since then, L.A.'s backfield was reconfigured further due to injury, with Raymond Calais (foot) and Xavier Jones (Achilles) joining Cam Akers (Achilles) as being ruled out for the season. To bolster the position group, the Rams acquired Sony Michel from the Patriots, leaving Henderson to contend with a newcomer and seventh-round rookie Jake Funk. Clearly, as a 2019 third-round pick of the Rams, Henderson has the most experience of the bunch under head coach Sean McVay, which has translated to 4.4 YPC on his 177 carries, 20 catches on 30 targets and six total touchdowns in 28 games. As evidence that Henderson remains the main back for the Rams, McVay relayed to Andrew Siciliano of NFL Network on Aug. 26 that "Darrell's still going to have a very big role" after the Michel trade. Look for Henderson to do just that Sunday against the Bears.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Stafford, McVay team up to bolster reputations with Rams

Matthew Stafford is an elite quarterback with almost no significant team success during his dozen seasons in the NFL

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Michel surprised by trade to Rams, but eager to get running

Sony Michel might have been the only person around the NFL who was shocked to hear he had been traded by the New England Patriots

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Still ticketed for lead role Coach Sean McVay said Henderson (thumb) is "still going to have a very big role" after the Rams traded for Sony Michel, Andrew Siciliano of NFL Network reports.

Impact McVay says the recent trade "doesn't really change the outlook" for Henderson, who still seems on track for the Week 1 start and lead role. That part may still be the same, but it's never good for a running back's fantasy outlook when his team adds more talent at the position, even at the mere cost of conditional late-round picks. For all the disappointment relative to his draft spot in the first round, Michel is likely at least a short-term upgrade compared to 2020 UDFA Xavier Jones and 2021 seventh-round pick Jake Funk, the other backup options in the Rams backfield. It's still a weak enough backfield to where Henderson could emerge with a three-down role, but Michel is another complication -- one who could even steal goal-line carries. Meanwhile, Henderson's thumb injury is believed to be a minor sprain and shouldn't impact his Week 1 availability even if it limits him in practice a bit.

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sean McVay: Darrell Henderson Jr. will still have 'a really big role' with Rams Sean McVay made it clear that Sony Michel’s arrival “doesn’t really change the outlook” for Darrell Henderson Jr.

AUGUST 26, 2021 • USATODAY.COM

Rams get RB Sony Michel from Patriots for 2022 draft picks

The Los Angeles Rams have acquired running back Sony Michel from the New England Patriots for undisclosed 2022 draft picks

AUGUST 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Joined by Michel in backfield The Rams acquired Sony Michel from the Patriots on Wednesday to join Henderson (thumb) in their backfield, Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Earlier this summer, head coach Sean McVay said he had confidence in Henderson's ability but was worried about his durability. Even so, the Rams moved forward with 2020 undrafted free agent Xavier Jones and 2021 sixth-round pick Jake Funk as the backup options behind Henderson after Cam Akers tore his Achilles in July. Now, the team is adding more depth ahead of Week 1, sending conditional fifth- and sixth-round picks to the Patriots in exchange for Michel. The trade shouldn't cost Henderson his starting spot or even his role as the lead ballcarrier, but Michel's addition bolsters the competition behind him, which could affect both Henderson's touch volume and job security down the road. Henderson returned to practice Tuesday with a cast over his right hand, after suffering a mild thumb sprain during Monday's practice.

AUGUST 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Cautious Rams try to balance rest, reps in preseason

Sean McVay has been as cautious as any NFL coach when making sure players are healthy for the regular season

AUGUST 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rams run low on healthy running backs as season approaches

The Los Angeles Rams are running low on healthy running backs before the regular season has started

AUGUST 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sprains thumb, to be ready Week 1 Henderson has been diagnosed with a mild thumb sprain but is slated to be available for Week 1 against the Bears, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Impact Henderson left Monday's practice early, and the nature of his injury has been revealed. Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic noted at the time of Henderson's departure that the running back took a hit to his hand or wrist area in practice last week, so this may have been a lingering issue. In any case, Henderson doesn't seem like a candidate to log any game action at all this preseason. He's the Rams' expected starting RB with Cam Akers (Achilles) out, but Henderson will yield all remaining exhibition reps to the untested trio of Xavier Jones, Jake Funk and Otis Anderson.

AUGUST 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Hurts thumb Monday Coach Sean McVay said Henderson injured his thumb at Monday's practice, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Impact Henderson made an early exit Monday, and it actually may have been an aggravation and not a new health concern, as Rodrigue noted the running back hit his hand or wrist area in a practice last week. In the wake of Cam Akers' torn Achilles, Henderson is the Rams' clear-cut top running back, and as such he has yet to see action through two preseason contests as McVay gets a look at the unproven members of the backfield behind him. And with L.A. cutting Raymond Calais (foot) with an injury designation Monday, that group includes second-year pro Xavier Jones, 2021 seventh-round pick Jake Funk and undrafted rookie Otis Anderson.

AUGUST 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sits for Saturday's contest Henderson didn't play in Saturday's preseason game against the Raiders.

Impact The projected lead back joined the rest of his starting skill-position teammates on the sideline against Las Vegas. Henderson was also held out of last Saturday's loss to the Chargers, but come the regular season, he's in line to helm the backfield in the absence of Cam Akers (Achilles) after producing an impressive 138-624-5 line a year ago in a part-time role over 15 games.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Stafford, Rams struggle in joint practice with Raiders

The Los Angeles Rams struggled during their first joint practice of the week with the Las Vegas Raiders

AUGUST 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Poised to lead backfield ESPN's Jeremy Fowler suggests that the Rams appear "all-in" on Henderson as their top back heading into the coming season.

Impact Things were headed in this direction after Cam Akers suffered a season-ending Achilles' injury, but with the team having refrained from dipping into the free-agent pool to add veteran depth, Henderson remains in line to head the Rams' rushing attack come Week 1. Also in the mix for complementary work out of the gate are Xavier Jones and Jake Funk, with both players now on the sleeper radar due to the fact that their roles would be in line to expand in the event that Henderson misses time for any reason.

AUGUST 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Funk, Jones emerging as Rams reminded of need for RB options

The Los Angeles Rams will need reserve running backs Jake Funk and Xavier Jones this season

AUGUST 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nursing hand issue Henderson suffered a hand injury during Tuesday's practice, though he was able to return to the field and take part in some drills, Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com reports.

Impact Coach Sean McVay downplayed the injury, citing Henderson's participation in the drills, though Thiry noted the tailback didn't receive much action after sustaining the injury. Regardless, the fact Henderson returned to practice at all indicates it isn't a serious concern, though it's an issue worth keeping an eye on as the Rams progress through camp.

AUGUST 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Darrell Henderson Jr. ready for lead role Rams running back Darrell Henderson Jr. is prepared to make the most of the opportunity in front of him.

AUGUST 1, 2021 • THERAMS.COM

Stafford, fans creating more spirited training camp for Rams

When the Los Angeles Rams held training camp behind closed doors last season, it started with the defense getting the better of the offense

AUGUST 1, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

From the Podium: Sean McVay, Jordan Fuller and Darrell Henderson Jr. react to Day 3 of Training Camp What Rams head coach Sean McVay, safety Jordan Fuller and running back Darrell Henderson Jr. had to say about Henderson taking on a lead bac...

JULY 31, 2021 • THERAMS.COM

Keeping RB Darrell Henderson available is Rams' main concern

With Cam Akers out for the season, it creates an opportunity for Darrell Henderson to become the featured every-down running back for the Los Angeles Rams

JULY 31, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS