New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry has displayed just enough production to be drafted as a TE1 on fantasy rosters. But, seven years into his career, he hasn’t shown the consistency to be an every-week starter.
As a rookie with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2016, Henry made a splash by scoring eight touchdowns on just 36 receptions. In his next three years, he had two seasons with 55 or more catches, despite missing time in each campaign. His career-best 60 receptions came in 2020, coinciding with his opportunity to hit free agency, where he signed a three-year deal with the Patriots.
Henry’s first season in New England saw him set a career high with nine touchdowns, catching 50 passes for 603 yards. It was his connection with young quarterback Mac Jones that gave the Patriots reason to believe at the time Jones would be the long-term answer.
That didn’t happen, but Henry is a cornerstone piece of the offense as the team readjusts in the post-Bill Belichick era, and he is being asked once again to assist in the development of another young quarterback (Drake Maye).
New England had the option of moving on from Henry after last season as free agency neared. It isn’t unusual when a franchise in a rebuild sheds itself of some higher priced veteran players – even a team captain, like Henry. The Patriots did just the opposite, re-signing him to a three-year deal to keep him in New England.
The Patriots don’t have a lot of dynamic receiving options, so having Henry as a leader on the offense will be critical in the transition of the franchise.
Fantasy football outlook
It would appear Henry’s career is going to be defined as being the security blanket for young quarterbacks. In 2020, when he had the most receptions of his career (60 in 14 games), Henry was one of the go-to targets for rookie quarterback Justin Herbert. His last three seasons in New England were marked by him being a primary target for Jones.
While veteran Jacoby Brissett certainly could open the year at QB1, as the Patriots move into the Maye era, Henry is again front and center in the offensive plans. Tight ends routinely run shorter routes and settle in to soft spots in zones, giving a young QB a good target to deliver passes. Should Brissett linger in the lineup, he has a documented history as a game manager.
The other concern anyone considering drafting Henry should have is that he has a penchant for injury. He has missed multiple games in four of the last six seasons, so anyone who ends up with Henry on a fantasy roster does so with a realistic expectation that he will miss time.
Henry has consistently shown he can be expected to have about 50 receptions for 500-600 yards and four to five touchdowns – decent numbers, but not elite ones. He’s a grinder, who ideally is a No. 2 in tight end-mandatory leagues. With a growing number of athletic young TEs coming into the league, players like Henry will slide down in rankings, because he’s a proven commodity with a known ceiling. He will end up on fantasy rosters, but it won’t be to be a weekly starter.
