Jonathan Taylor this, Derrick Henry that. Yes, it'd be awesome to see the New York Giants land a superstar running back, but aiming lower is okay, too, like TreVeyon Henderson.
First and foremost, there are no indications that the New England Patriots want to part ways with Henderson. Let's address that up front. His usage (or lack thereof) and the team's recent activity at least make you wonder whether he's obtainable, which should have the Giants' attention.
Henderson missed the Patriots' Week 8 win over the Miami Dolphins due to an illness and appears to be trending toward a second consecutive absence. Assuming this isn't a long-term issue and he's available, the 2025 second-round pick is an interesting outside-the-box option for New York.
Per an official statement from Henderson, he's "experienced an unexpected and unusual medical emergency involving a series of unexplained neurological symptoms that required hospitalization." Thankfully, results of his "comprehensive medical testing have come back positive and reassuring," but the cause remains "unknown and unexplainable."
The severity of the matter and recovery timeline remain unclear. Nevertheless, if the Giants feel like Henderson is on the upswing, they may still be comfortable enough to try to acquire him from New England.
Could the Patriots' TreVeyon Henderson be an out-of-nowhere Giants trade option?
Putting football aside, our thoughts are with Henderson and his family during these challenging times. Remembering that professional athletes are human beings first and foremost, just like us, is crucial, and moments like this are an unfortunate, humbling reminder. Hopefully, the obstacles are behind him soon, and he's back on the gridiron in short order.
For better or worse, Henderson has been the lesser half of a committee behind incumbent starter Rhamondre Stevenson since entering the NFL. The split has only tilted further in the latter's favor in 2026, as the former has yet to regain form following a late-summer ankle injury. New England also signed second-year undrafted free agent Lan Larison to their 53-man roster on Oct. 31, potentially telegraphing another move; take note, Giants brass.
We've seen what Henderson can do when treated like a workhorse, though. It's almost hard to believe New England has put that genie back in the bottle. He averaged 110 scrimmage yards per game and scored five touchdowns (four rushing, one receiving) in the three contests Stevenson sat out last campaign.
Impressively, Henderson, 24, eclipsed 1,100 total yards as a rookie despite logging a 45.6 percent offensive snap share. He's incredibly dangerous with the ball in his hands, and the numbers bear that out. The speedster ranked highly in the following key metrics among 65 RBs with a minimum of 50 carries in 2025:
- Second in yards before contact per attempt (3.15)
- Eighth in yards per attempt (5.06)
- 11th in explosive yards (460)
- 15th in rush yards over expectation per attempt (0.60)
Adding a playmaker with that level of vision and burst would complement Cam Skattebo's physical style and form a compatible backfield duo for the G-Men. Henderson is worth monitoring ahead of the upcoming trade deadline. It's very possible, if not likely, that the Pats don't give up on a talented young player prematurely, yet crazier things have happened.
It's easy to fantasize about guys like Taylor and Henry, who have been connected to Big Blue to varying degrees. While Henderson isn't a headliner like them, he's younger, under club control through 2028 and the asking price wouldn't be as steep.
However, Henderson was a shell of the electrifying playmaker we saw during the last regular season once the playoffs rolled around, and he's struggled since. The medical condition explains his recent shortcomings, though the on-field problems predate the ongoing situation.
The case against TreVeyon Henderson
Do the Giants want to bet on upside or fix their run game once and for all? Henderson being a true difference-maker is more theoretical than practical (for now). Taylor and Henry instantly become the top dogs on any squad they represent.
Moreover, Henderson's inability to command a larger role in New England isn't exactly encouraging. Struggles in pass protection have been a factor, which is odd, considering he was highly touted for his blocking chops coming out of college. Relying on him to keep quarterback J.J. McCarthy upright could be a risky proposition for New York.
Time will tell how the Giants proceed. They're actively exploring the market ahead of the Nov. 10 cutoff date to strike a deal.
Note: Advanced metrics courtesy of Fantasy Points' data suite 2.0 ($).
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