PFF Crowns Derrick Henry as King of Ravens Backfield That Could Rule the NFL

Baltimore, MD – June 19, 2025

The Baltimore Ravens' backfield is no longer just a supporting act — it's becoming the headline. According to Pro Football Focus, Derrick Henry has not only resurrected his career in Baltimore but is now leading what could be the NFL’s most feared rushing attack.

In PFF’s latest rankings of the top running backs entering the 2025 season, Henry landed at No. 8 overall — a testament to his dominance even as he approaches his 32nd birthday. While many expected the former Titan to slow down, his 2024 campaign was anything but aging gracefully: 1,921 rushing yards, 16 touchdowns, and a career-high 5.9 yards per carry silenced every doubt.

“You’d be hard-pressed to find a backfield more punishing and more balanced than what the Ravens have built around Henry,” PFF’s analytics team noted. “He’s still a one-man wrecking crew who can take over games — and now he doesn’t have to do it alone.”

Indeed, part of the intrigue lies in Baltimore’s depth. While Henry is the undisputed centerpiece, the Ravens are rich with complementary talent. Justice Hill provides burst and versatility, while Keaton Mitchell — once a rotational piece — is evolving into a legit change-of-pace threat.

Head coach John Harbaugh praised the group’s chemistry, saying, “We don’t need to run Henry into the ground. We’ve got multiple backs who can gas a defense — but when it’s time to close the game, we know who’s getting the rock.”

Offensive coordinator Todd Monken has leaned into this new-found depth with creative formations, including split-back looks and designed tosses that maximize Henry’s downhill fury. The result? A Ravens offense that no longer leans solely on Lamar Jackson’s legs.

“We’ve always had the threat of the QB run game,” Monken explained. “But when you add in a hammer like Derrick and rotate in lightning with Hill and Mitchell — it’s a different beast. It forces defenses to pick their poison.”

The numbers support that. Baltimore led the NFL in total rushing yards in 2024, and with most of the offensive line returning — and Andrew Vorhees poised to step in at guard — expectations are even higher in 2025.

What does it all mean for the AFC? Trouble.

“If this unit stays healthy,” wrote PFF’s Dalton Wasserman, “Baltimore has the most complete rushing attack in the league. And Derrick Henry is still the most terrifying player in short-yardage situations. They don’t need a rebuild — they’ve built a bully.”

As Henry continues to defy Father Time and Baltimore stacks weapons around Lamar Jackson, the rest of the league should take notice: the Ravens’ backfield isn’t just productive — it’s punishing.

And with PFF now officially crowning Henry the king of this castle, the throne in the AFC might be theirs for the taking.