Derrick Henry jumps into round 1 in ESPN non-PPR mock
ESPN Fantasy’s 10-team non-PPR mock showed runners getting a bump, with Jahmyr Gibbs first and Derrick Henry sixth.
By Deshawn Carter · Sports Writer
3 min read
Derrick Henry’s old-school workload still packs first-round fantasy punch when catches stop carrying bonus points.
ESPN Fantasy’s latest 10-team non-PPR mock draft put the Baltimore running back at No. 6 overall, with fantasy editor Pierre Becquey making the pick. ESPN noted that Henry had 307 carries and only 15 receptions last season, a profile that plays better in formats that do not award a point per catch.
The mock, published July 20, framed non-PPR as a scoring setup where rushing volume, touchdown paths and quarterback production gain ground on high-catch players. ESPN Fantasy said PPR has become its default scoring format over roughly the past decade, while non-PPR keeps the older setup: receptions do not add a point on their own.
Running backs rule the top
The first two picks were both running backs. ESPN analyst Mike Clay opened with Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 1, and Field Yates followed with Atlanta’s Bijan Robinson at No. 2.
Puka Nacua went third to Eric Moody as the first wide receiver off the board. Jonathan Taylor landed fourth with Tristan H. Cockcroft, Ja’Marr Chase went fifth to Liz Loza, and Henry followed at sixth.
The rest of the first round mixed star receivers and runners: Jaxon Smith-Njigba went seventh, Christian McCaffrey eighth, Amon-Ra St. Brown ninth and Justin Jefferson 10th, according to ESPN’s draft board.
ESPN’s format explainer pointed to Henry and Miami’s De’Von Achane as the cleanest example of the scoring swing. In ESPN’s projections, Achane was listed for 65 receptions and 293 PPR points, while Henry was projected for 21 catches and 274 PPR points. Switch off reception scoring, and ESPN said Henry rises to 253 points while Achane drops to 228.
Quarterbacks get a bump
Because quarterbacks are not affected by reception scoring, ESPN Fantasy said they carry more relative value in non-PPR. The mock still waited until Round 4 for the first passer, with Dan Graziano taking Buffalo’s Josh Allen at pick 31.
Jayden Daniels followed in Round 6 at pick 52, selected by Tyler Fulghum. Lamar Jackson went 61st, Drake Maye 63rd, Joe Burrow 64th and Jalen Hurts 66th, giving the seventh round a quarterback run.
ESPN also said pass-catching backs and short-area receivers lose value in this setup, naming Chase Brown and Wan’Dale Robinson as examples of players hurt by the format. The outlet said heavier rushing backs such as James Cook III and vertical or red-zone targets such as Mike Evans receive a boost.
Who was in the room
The mock included ESPN NFL reporter Dan Graziano, analysts Matt Bowen, Tristan H. Cockcroft, Daniel Dopp, Tyler Fulghum, Liz Loza, Eric Moody and Field Yates, plus fantasy editor Pierre Becquey and Mike Clay.
Tight ends cracked the top 20, with Trey McBride going 20th to Clay and Brock Bowers 22nd to Yates. Colston Loveland was the third tight end selected at pick 45.
Defenses and kickers arrived late. The Houston Texans were the first defense taken at pick 119, while Brandon Aubrey was the first kicker at pick 122. The 16-round mock closed with Kansas City kicker Harrison Butker at pick 160.
This story draws on original reporting from ESPN.com.