Ravens' Dynamic Duo Climb the NFL Top 100
For the second straight season, Baltimore’s quarterback Lamar Jackson holds firm at No. 2 on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2025, a ranking voted on by his peers. The consistency of his dual‑threat style—mixing pinpoint passing with explosive runs—has kept him locked among the league’s elite, underscoring why teammates continue to view him as a game‑changing asset.
What’s catching fire even more is the meteoric rise of running back Derrick Henry, who jumps to No. 7 after a debut season that feels like a career‑defining resurgence. The 31‑year‑old, who signed with the Ravens in the offseason, logged just over 1,900 rushing yards, averaged a career‑best 5.9 yards per carry, and delivered a series of league‑leading numbers that turned heads across the NFL.
Henry’s stat line reads like a highlight reel: a +562 rushing‑yards‑over‑expected mark— the highest single‑season total since at least 2018—plus 1,361 yards after contact, which placed him third among players with 100+ carries. Even more telling, he forced 100 missed tackles and accumulated 675 yards after those missed chances, effectively turning broken tackles into extra first‑downs.
Those figures translate into a physical presence that defensive coordinators struggle to contain. At 240‑250 pounds, Henry runs like a freight train; once he hits a “full head of steam,” he can barrel through a line of defenders and keep gaining yards, even when the defense manages to get a hand on him.
The partnership of Jackson and Henry is reshaping Baltimore’s offensive identity. Previously, defenses could key in on Jackson’s mobility and force him to the pocket. Now, with Henry drawing extra attention in the backfield, the Ravens can spread the defense thin, opening lanes for both the run and the pass. Analysts are already calling the combo “pretty special,” noting that it forces opponents to respect two distinct threats rather than focusing on a single star.
Beyond the numbers, the peer‑voted nature of the Top 100 list adds an extra layer of validation. While the Seattle Seahawks' quarterback Russell Wilson landed at No. 12, and Eagles running back Saquon Barkley claimed the top spot, the placement of two Ravens in the top ten signals respect from across the locker rooms. It also hints at a shift in how the league perceives power‑running backs in a pass‑heavy era—Henry’s success suggests that a dominant ground game can still be a cornerstone of a championship‑contending offense.
For Henry, the ranking is a personal stamp of approval on his decision to leave Tennessee and join a system that plays to his strengths. After a career that once seemed to be winding down—he turned 31 last January—he’s now delivering the kind of season that most players only dream of. The narrative has changed from “aging back‑up” to “late‑career renaissance,” and his teammates have taken note, often shouting “Freight train!” when he bursts through the line.
Jackson, meanwhile, continues to build on his 2019 MVP season, refining his decision‑making while still pulling off jaw‑dropping scrambles. His ability to read defenses has improved, and with Henry’s presence drawing linebackers into the box, Jackson’s deep‑ball accuracy has become a more frequent weapon. The two have already logged multiple games with both a 100‑plus‑yard passer and a 100‑plus‑yard rusher, a rarity in today’s NFL.
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, the Ravens’ coaching staff appears confident that this duo can sustain, if not improve upon, their production. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman has hinted at incorporating more play‑action passes that exploit Henry’s threat to the front, while also leaving room for Jackson’s improvisational brilliance. If the chemistry continues to gel, Baltimore could be looking at a rare blend of speed, power, and versatility that few teams have managed to combine successfully.
In the broader context of the league, the rankings also highlight a shifting power balance. Miami’s Tyreek Hill plummeted from No. 1 to No. 47 after a down year, underscoring how quickly fortunes can change. The Ravens, however, have shown that strategic acquisitions—like Henry’s trade—paired with homegrown talent can produce a top‑ten presence that reverberates throughout the AFC North and beyond.