TreVeyon Henderson didn’t just arrive in the NFL-he exploded onto the scene. Drafted 38th overall by the New England Patriots in the 2025 NFL Draft, the former Ohio State standout was expected to bring some juice to an offense in need of playmakers. But through 15 weeks, he’s delivered more than just highlight reels-he’s delivered hope.
In Sunday’s Week 15 showdown against the Buffalo Bills, Henderson reminded everyone exactly why the Patriots used a high second-round pick on him. With two electric touchdown runs, including a 55-yarder in the second quarter and a 65-yard sprint in the fourth, Henderson showed off the kind of speed and vision that turns routine handoffs into game-changing moments. That second touchdown was especially impressive-bouncing a run back across the field, outrunning defenders, and even getting a block from rookie quarterback Drake Maye to finish the job.
Big plays like that aren’t just exciting-they’re historic. Henderson now has four touchdown runs of 50 yards or more this season, tying Saquon Barkley for the most by a rookie since 2000.
No other player in the league this year has more than two. That kind of home-run ability is rare, and Henderson is making it look routine.
It didn’t start this way. Henderson’s early season workload was modest, and the production matched.
But over the past seven games, as the coaching staff has leaned more heavily on him, the results have been undeniable. He’s now racked up 773 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns, averaging a blistering 5.4 yards per carry-third-best among qualified backs.
Add in 34 catches for 212 yards and another score through the air, and Henderson is up to eight total touchdowns, tied for the second-most among rookies this season.
And here’s the kicker: he’s only had 20 or more touches in a game twice all year.
That efficiency and explosiveness have put him on pace for around 1,200 total yards and 10 touchdowns. With four games left, he needs just 227 rushing yards to hit the 1,000-yard mark-a milestone no Patriots rookie running back has reached since Robert Edwards in 1998.
That’s nearly three decades without a rookie back cracking 1K in New England. Henderson could be the one to break that drought.
He’s also currently the betting favorite to win Offensive Rookie of the Year, which would make him the first Patriot to take home that honor since Curtis Martin in 1995. That’s elite company, and Henderson’s résumé is stacking up nicely.
When you stack his rookie season against others in recent Patriots history, it’s clear he’s already climbed near the top. Since 2000, no Patriots rookie has rushed for more touchdowns or averaged more yards per carry than Henderson. He’s second in rushing yards, and with three games to go, he’s got a real shot to surpass Sony Michel’s mark.
Looking beyond running backs, the Patriots haven’t exactly been a factory for high-output rookie skill players. No wide receiver or tight end drafted by New England since 2000 has topped 600 receiving yards in their first season. Rob Gronkowski’s 2010 rookie line-42 catches, 546 yards, 10 touchdowns-remains the gold standard, but Henderson’s impact as a runner is arguably just as significant, if not more so, given how he’s transformed the offense.
Quarterbacks like Mac Jones (2021) and Drake Maye (2024) have had strong debuts, and several offensive linemen-Matt Light, Nate Solder, Joe Thuney, Shaq Mason, Logan Mankins-made immediate impacts. But when it comes to skill position players, it’s hard to find a rookie season in the 21st century that matches what Henderson is doing right now.
What makes Henderson’s emergence so important isn’t just the stats-it’s the way he changes the game. For years, even dating back to the late stages of the Tom Brady era, the Patriots have lacked a true game-breaker on offense.
Henderson is changing that narrative. Every time he touches the ball, there’s a chance something special happens.
His speed stretches defenses, his vision exploits holes, and his balance through contact makes him a nightmare to bring down.
He’s not just a bright spot in a rebuilding year-he’s a potential cornerstone. If the Patriots are going to make a push in the AFC playoff race, they’ll need Henderson to keep doing what he’s done all season: turn small windows into big plays, and give opposing defenses one more thing to lose sleep over.
With three games left, the rookie has a chance to etch his name into Patriots history-and maybe bring a little postseason magic to Foxborough while he’s at it.