If there's anyone in the NFL that knows what constitutes an elite running back, it's Derrick Henry. He has four All-Pros to his name, a 2,000-yard season, an Offensive Player of the Year, and over 13,000 career rushing yards and over 120 touchdowns. When it's all said and done, he'll almost certainly end up in Canton when he decides to retire, as no one can deny he's a Hall of Fame level talent.
So as his Baltimore Ravens take on the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday night, he made sure to acknowledge that the Falcons have an elite back of their own in Bijan Robinson. But anyone who's watched a down of football in their life knows that Bijan is special. That really isn't a dead giveaway.
But Henry made sure to take things a step further. While addressing the media prior to the Week 5 clash, he called Robinson "the best in the game right now". Yeah. That's right. Even one of the best running backs of this generation knows that No. 7 is the best back in the league right now.
“He’s the best in the game right now," Henry said. "I’m not going to shy away from it.”
He's dangerous as a runner. He's an elite receiver. And until now, he's never had even adequate QB play. And now that the Falcons are winning (and he's impressing while they do it), it's making the NFL world see him in a completely different light--even though he's deserved to on the throne all along.
It'll be fun to watch two of the best in the business square off at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and see where this RB1 debate goes.
Derrick Henry referred to Bijan Robinson as the NFL's best running back
And speaking of the RB1 debate, it actually does. Depending on who you ask, there's a lot of competition for that spot. Henry himself may not be in that tier like he was in his prime, but the main culprit is Jahmyr Gibbs of the Detroit Lions, whom Bijan spent the summer in a contract race with.
Between the two of them, this debate keeps changing every week, and I have a sneaking suspicion this will teeter-totter between them all season--and for the next couple of years, at least. No other back in football is as versatile and dynamic as these two, but while Gibbs can do things Bijan can, Robinson can do things Jahmyr can't. That should settle it despite the contract difference.
Right now, Bijan and Gibbs are near/at the top of every prospective Offensive Player of the Year ballot, and evidently, Henry is staking his claim in this by making the right choice.
Other NFL stars are taking notice of what Bijan Robinson has accomplished
And the craziest part is that that Derrick Henry wasn't even the only NFL star today to credit Bijan Robinson by giving him the edge over Jahmyr Gibbs. Green Bay Packers pass-rusher Micah Parsons did the same, and given he's had to tackle both of them, he's well-qualified to make that decision.
During an episode of his-self named podcast, The Edge With Micah Parsons, the five-time Pro Bowler revealed his MVP ladder--where he had Bijan above Gibbs. The reason why? While they're both sensational, he's done more with less across the last few years in Atlanta while Detroit has more talent on offense.
"Bijan's doing it with less," Parsons said. "They just got a quarterback. He just got that and he still went for 200. But also, like Gibbs is surrounded by Amon-Ra St. Brown, (Sam) Laporta, Jamo (Jameson Williams)... I'm not saying those players make him worse, I'm just saying like what Bijan has done without that elite quarterback play, it adds a little bit more value. Everyone knows where the ball is going, and they still can't stop it."
That's sound logic from Micah--even though he definitely has some anti-Lions bias. This Falcons offense has Drake London and Kyle Pitts, but more than anything it runs through No. 7 and they still can't stop it--whereas the Lions have Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and Sam LaPorta there to make Jared Goff's life easier to ignite better QB play.
So now that the Dirty Birds are winning games, Bijan Robinson is finally getting the respect he deserves--both from Derrick Henry and Micah Parsons-- entering Week 5.
Add us as a preferred source on Google