During the second half of the 2021 regular season, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor took off on a tear that vaulted him into the conversation as the league’s best back.
It just so happened to come at a time when the league’s current rushing champ, Derrick Henry, went down with a foot injury that forced him to miss the entire second half of the campaign. Through eight games, Henry led the NFL with 937 rushing yards.
Taylor wound up taking over during Henry’s absence, finishing with a league-high 1,811 rushing yards and 20 total touchdowns. He was the youngest player to ever eclipse 1,800 rushing yards in a season.
With Henry seemingly healthy going into 2022, both players are tied as favorites to lead the NFL in rushing, according to Tipico Sportsbook. Here’s a look at the top favorites at the position:
| Derrick Henry (+550) | Jonathan Taylor (+550) |
| Dalvin Cook (+750) | Nick Chubb (+900) |
| Joe Mixon (+1300) | Najee Harris (+1300) |
While Colts and Titans fans seem to argue a few times per month over which back is best, the two best running backs in the NFL are in the same division. As Henry was on a ridiculous tear during the first eight games of the season, he did so on 219 carries. He averaged 27.4 carries per game and saw fewer than 28 carries in a game just twice during that stretch.
Either player could lead the league in rushing for the 2022 season, and hopefully, both are able to stay healthy so we get a better glimpse at who the true rushing king is.
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