Derrick Henry faces Jaguars defense allowing over 100 rushing yards per game

The Jacksonville Jaguars host the Baltimore Ravens at 8:15 p.m. ET on Thursday night for the start of NFL Week 9. The game features a notable shift in the fantasy football market. Lamar Jackson, the Ravens quarterback, is sidelined with a thumb injury. This absence places Trevor Lawrence and Derrick Henry at the center of the player pool for daily fantasy lineups.

The statistical shift is stark for the running game. The Jaguars allowed just 63.8 rushing yards per game over their first five contests. In their last two games, they have surrendered over 100 rushing yards each time. The defense is also vulnerable to the pass out of the backfield, ranking among the last five teams in allowing receptions to running backs.

Derrick Henry enters the game with a favorable historical record against this specific opponent. Over his last 10 games against the Jaguars, Henry has averaged 129.1 rushing yards and 14 total touchdowns. As a native of the Jacksonville area, he faces a defense that is currently susceptible to the ground game. The Ravens are expected to lean heavily on him in the absence of Jackson.

SportsLine expert Mike McClure, a professional fantasy player with more than $2 million in career winnings, has identified Henry as a top pick. McClure uses a prediction model that simulates every snap of NFL action, factoring in matchups and injuries. He has finished tied for first in the DraftKings Millionaire Maker twice and the FanDuel Million once.

The Jaguars also feature a potent backfield option in Bhayshul Tuten. Tuten is coming off a career game where he set personal highs in rushing yards (104), receiving yards (55), and total yards (159) while scoring two touchdowns. He has recorded at least 87 scrimmage yards in all but one game this season and has scored multiple touchdowns in back-to-back weeks.

The Ravens defense presents a scoring opportunity for opposing backs. Baltimore has allowed more touchdowns to running backs than all but eight teams this year. Last week, Buffalo Bills running back James Cook accumulated 101 total yards and a score against them. This trend suggests Tuten may find a path to the end zone again on Thursday.

Other names on the radar include Jaguars wide receivers Bhayshul Tuten and Parker Washington, as well as Ravens receiver Zay Flowers. A sleeper option is Jaguars wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. Thomas found the end zone on Sunday after missing catches in his previous two games.

Kicker Tyler Loop is another candidate for lineups. If the Ravens struggle to convert drives into touchdowns without Jackson, they may settle for field goals. The Baltimore offense has scored just one touchdown in each of its last three games. The Jaguars defense ranks second in scoring, which adds another layer to the defensive strategy for fantasy managers.

McClure’s analysis is available to members of SportsLine. He is targeting an undervalued player in this matchup who could provide high value in both tournaments and cash games. The specific identity of this sleeper pick remains exclusive to his members until the game begins.