Derrick Henry vs Tony Pollard: Who Should You Start?
There is a real production gap between these two running backs. Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens) averaged 16.0 PPG over 17 games in 2025, outscoring Tony Pollard (Tennessee Titans, 10.0 PPG) by 6.0 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.
Derrick Henry carries a 6.0-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.
Both profile as early-down workhorses. Derrick Henry ran for 1595 yards and 16 touchdowns; Tony Pollard posted 1082 and 5. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.
One scheduling note: Derrick Henry is off Week 14 and Tony Pollard Week 5. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in running back for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.
