Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry went off for 238 yards and four touchdowns over 17 carries in a 30-9 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night.
Derrick Henry today:
• Most rush yds (238) in Titans franchise history
• Most rush yds (238) & rush TD (4) in TNF history
• 2nd player in NFL history with 99-yd TD run
• Fewest carries (17) in a game with 200+ rush yards & 4+ rush TD in Super Bowl era#TitanUp @Titans
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) December 7, 2018
One of his touchdowns was a 99-yard run in which he stiff-armed three Jaguars.
It was truly a special night for the Alabama product, though the night was not as fun for the fantasy football and betting community (and for the Jaguars, of course). The performance really came out of nowhere; Henry’s previous season-high in rushing yards was 58 and this is a Jacksonville defense that just shut out the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
So, this game was a stunner, and it understandably caught fantasy football owners and bettors off guard.
We’ll start with the betting impact. The over/under for Henry’s rushing yards of the night was 37.5 yards, and 97% of the money at William Hill sportsbooks was on the Under, according to ESPN’s Ben Fawkes.
Derrick Henry's O/U at @WilliamHillUS was 37.5 rushing yards.
He went way OVER after that 99-yard TD run.
97% of the $$ was on the UNDER.
— Ben Fawkes (@BFawkes22) December 7, 2018
But the fantasy football world was where Henry’s shocking night was really felt. Henry had 47.8 fantasy points, the highest total in ESPN standard-scoring leagues this season. He was only started in 14.3% of leagues.
Derrick Henry's 47.8 fantasy points are the most by anyone in a game this season.
BUT…
he was started in 14.3 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) December 7, 2018
And this performance came on what is the first week of the fantasy playoffs in most leagues, so it was particularly annoying for owners that didn’t start him, like yours truly. Here are some fantasy football-related tweets reacting to Henry’s night.
45.9 points on my bench. 3.5 points in my lineup. https://t.co/QBiQz7hPH6
— Matt Clapp (@Matt2Clapp) December 7, 2018
If you had Derrick Henry on your bench in fantasy pic.twitter.com/JDjGs10yKJ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 7, 2018
raise your hand if you benched Derrick Henry tonight pic.twitter.com/Wrxur0E3Pe
— Fantasy Football Today (@FFToday) December 7, 2018
If you’re playing against Derrick Henry tonight I advise you to search deep within yourself, recall your entire history…because you did something very, very wrong to deserve this. Find the darkness. Repent.
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) December 7, 2018
When you're facing Derrick Henry in the opening round of your fantasy playoffs pic.twitter.com/JlilsdYFq7
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) December 7, 2018
Everyone who sat Derrick Henry in the first round of their fantasy football playoffs tonight pic.twitter.com/SMGnA7kJw7
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 7, 2018
For all those whose fantasy seasons ran into Derrick Henry in the playoffs tonight. pic.twitter.com/QAHMhyFgJt
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) December 7, 2018
Derrick Henry and the 52 fantasy points he scored tonight are sitting on my bench…love it pic.twitter.com/y4GQk4fwIa
— Joe Oberliesen (@JoeObe25) December 7, 2018
Derrick Henry's 99-yard touchdown run was worth 15.9 fantasy points. On that one play, he scored more points than he did in all but one of his previous 12 ENTIRE games this season.
— Tristan H. Cockcroft (@SultanofStat) December 7, 2018
Derrick Henry straight chillin on my bench during Fantasy Football playoffs pic.twitter.com/AvSXuRA2fn
— Zack (@zmcgee9) December 7, 2018
Checks fantasy lineup, sees Derrick Henry on bench. pic.twitter.com/pTZG1E9vVM
— Sean Holland (@sth85) December 7, 2018
Yup. I have Derrick Henry on my bench in fantasy football. pic.twitter.com/BvutoHSbT4
— Matthew Tolly (@TheBigMT_06) December 7, 2018