Derrick Henry: Dalvin Cook is 'the best back in football'

The race for the NFL's 2020 rushing title is turning into a two-back affair.

Through 11 weeks of the regular season, it's Derrick Henry, Dalvin Cook, and a chasm between them and the rest of the league.

Henry, the Tennessee Titans' wrecking ball, leads the league with 1,079 yards. Cook, the Minnesota Vikings' game-breaker, is just 10 yards behind him with 1,069 - despite playing in one less game - and leads the NFL with 13 rushing touchdowns. James Robinson of the Jacksonville Jaguars sits third with 762 yards.

Henry, 26, and Cook, 25, figure to be in tight competition for the rushing lead over the final six weeks of the campaign. But for the moment, Henry is ceding the title of the game's best back to his counterpart.

"Dalvin Cook is having a phenomenal season. Right now, I would say he's the best back in football," Henry said, according to Sports Illustrated's Mike Hogan.

"Just week after week, always dominating. Always having a great game. Running the ball. Catching the ball. Very explosive."

The two backs met back in Week 3. Cook went off for 181 yards and a score while Henry posted 119 yards and two touchdowns in a 31-30 Titans victory.

Cook and Henry have both eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in all but four games this season. Henry, for his part, has enjoyed watching his peer find such success.

"I love watching (Cook) run on film," Henry said. "He is doing a great job this year. That guy's just been incredible the whole year. He runs hard, runs through tackles, makes guys miss. He's just been balling."