Tyjae Spears, Tony Pollard To Split Titans Backfield In 2024
Tennessee Titans running backs Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard appear poised to split reps in 2024. While discussing a potential starter at running back, new head coach Brian Callahan indicated that both players could be interchangeable and may even share the field simultaneously. It affirms what many of us suspected heading into training camp, which is that this backfield will likely be roughly a 50/50 split. Both players have similar skill sets and are electric to watch when they get hot. Their speed will be a necessity given that the Titans enter the season with the 30th-ranked offensive line, according to PFF. Both players will leech each other's fantasy value in 2024. If second-year quarterback Will Levis can take a solid step forward, the dump-off opportunities could be there for both players if the running lanes are clogged. Each player is drafted outside the top-24 running backs in fantasy drafts, which is in line with RotoBaller's running back rankings that have Pollard as the RB25 while Spears is RB30.
Titans High On Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears As Receivers
Tennessee Titans running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears figure to share the backfield in 2024 under new head coach Brian Callahan, and the Titans are high on both players as receiving threats. "Anytime we can find ways to match those guys up in the passing game on linebackers is a huge benefit to us. They are hard to cover. They can run routes like receivers, which is unique," Callahan said. "I have not seen guys like them very often and we have two of them...they catch naturally which is exciting." Pollard, who spent the last five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, was often used as a receiver out of the backfield as a change-of-pace complement to Ezekiel Elliott. Meanwhile, Spears played 52.9% of Tennessee's offensive snaps last year -- primarily on passing downs. It's going to be a challenge to project each back's workload in the new-look Titans' offense, but given the predicted identity shift to a pass-first approach, both could have flex value in PPR formats. Pollard is being drafted as a low-end RB2 in early fantasy drafts, while Spears is going off the board around the low-end RB3 range.
Titans Calling Tyjae Spears, Tony Pollard 1A And 1B
Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Nick Holz sees running backs Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard as 1A and 1B in some combination at the RB position for the team heading into the 2024 season. Holz said both backs will get a lot of touches. It's clearly bad news for Pollard's fantasy value after he served as the lead back for the Dallas Cowboys in 2023, recording his second straight 1,000-yard rushing season with six touchdowns but a career-low 4.0 yards per carry in 17 regular-season starts. Expecting a third straight 1,000-yard season in his first year in Tennessee would be unwise. If both Spears -- who had 453 rushing yards and 385 receiving yards with three total TDs as a rookies last year, -- and Pollard split the backfield work evenly, they'd both be more of RB3/flex plays in fantasy on a weekly basis in an offense that could be transitioning to more of a balanced attack rather than run-heavy.
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears rushed three times for 25 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 41 yards and a touchdown in the Week 18 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. With Derrick Henry likely heading to a new organization this offseason, Spears could find himself as the team's RB1 in 2024. That said, Tennessee will surely add competition to the backfield, so this is a situation worth monitoring. Either way, it was a great performance for the rookie to close out his debut season.
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears has hauled in nine of his 12 targets for 56 yards over the last two weeks. Those games were played mostly by Ryan Tannehill, who could start in place of the injured Will Levis (foot) in the team's season finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Although Spears is far from a sure thing in fantasy football, he's earned over a 23% target share since Week 16. This makes him a low-end flex consideration in deep PPR leagues. His upside is limited, so he's not worth consideration in DFS GPP tournaments.
Tyjae Spears Tallies 29 Yards On Nine Touches In Loss
Tennessee Titans rookie running back Tyjae Spears rushed six times for no gain and caught three of his four targets for 29 yards in the Week 17 blowout loss to the Houston Texans. It was a disappointing performance for the rookie, but he's playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. Spears could be the clear No. 1 running back in Tennessee next season, as there's a chance Derrick Henry is set to play in his final game for the organization on Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Spears shouldn't be trusted in any leagues that extend to Week 18, but he'll be an interesting sleeper for fantasy football next year.
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears has played second-fiddle to Derrick Henry this season, but he is the RB35 in PPR leagues through 16 weeks of action. He has hauled in 12 passes over the last three weeks, which makes him a viable PPR flex option in deep leagues against the Houston Texans In Week 17. In Week 15 against Houston, Derrick Henry posted ten total yards on 20 touches, so it'll be interesting to see if Tennessee opts to get Spears more involved this time around. Ultimately, Spears is far from a sure thing, but if fantasy managers are desperate for flex production, he's in consideration. Whether Will Levis (ankle) or Ryan Tannehill starts, he should be a factor as a receiver.
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears has flashed upside during his rookie season, but Derrick Henry has remained the primary back for the team in 2023. However, Henry is coming off one of the worst performances of his career, posting 15 total yards on 20 touches. With Henry showing clear signs of regression and the Titans being eliminated from playoff contention, they might opt to give Spears an enhanced role down the stretch. The Seattle Seahawks have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to running backs, so Spears could make the most out of however many touches he gets. With Will Levis (ankle) potentially out of action, veteran quarterback Ryan Tannehill might lean on Spears in the passing game, too. Although he should be avoided in shallow leagues, he can be flexed in deep leagues.
Tyjae Spears Finishes With A Team-High 30 Rushing Yards
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears finished with nine carries for a team-high 30 yards in Sunday's overtime loss to Houston. He added one catch for seven yards. Derrick Henry had one of the worst games of his career, amassing nine yards off 16 carries, so it didn't take much for anyone to be more productive. Although Henry didn't play the best in Week 15, it doesn't appear he will lose his starting job anytime soon, especially since he had two touchdowns in each of his previous three games entering Sunday's game. Of course, while Spears has had potent fantasy showings this season, he cannot be trusted in Week 16 versus the Seattle Seahawks.
Tyjae Spears Firmly On Deep-League Fantasy Radar In Week 15
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears has posted 104 rushing yards on 23 carries and 102 yards on 10 receptions over the last two weeks. In PPR leagues, he's finished as the RB16 and RB13 during that span. After two strong performances, he's back on the fantasy radar. Although his floor is low given his varying workload, Tennessee will likely continue to feature him down the stretch. Derrick Henry's rushing efficiency has declined, and Spears has been a reliable receiver for rookie Will Levis. Consider Spears a mid-range RB3 against the Houston Texans in Week 15.
