Tyjae Spears has a fun profile that gets all fantasy football managers excited. His ability to work in space is enticing to have on our teams as we watch his home-run potential play out on the field. He is a headache for most defenses, as their linebackers can’t keep pace with him.
Today, during Tennesee Titans practice, there was no sign of Spears. This no-show occurred due to an ankle injury he suffered in Week 2.
The Titans have a decent matchup for running backs as they face the Green Bay Packers, who have allowed the 12th-most rushing yards to the position and the 11th-most receiving yards to running backs in 2024.
Will Tyjae Spears Play in Week 3 vs. the Tennesee Titans?
Spears told reporters that he expects to play against the Packers on Sunday. His early exit of Week 2, combined with a lower-body injury, has us concerned for this shift running back.
Spears returned to practice on Thursday as a limited participant after sitting out during Wednesday’s session.
Ahead of practice on Friday, head coach Brian Callahan told reporters that Spears will be listed as questionable but should be good to go against the Packers in Week 3.
Should You Start Tyjae Spears in Fantasy Lineups?
It is tough to know what to do with Spears this week if he is on the field. Callahan continues to talk about giving the two backs a 50/50 split, even if that is not what we have seen through two weeks.
#Titans HC Brian Callahan on whether he still wants a 50/50 split between Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears:
“I do feel the same way. I feel like I would still like to get more touches for Tyjae… I see Tyjae as a really impactful player and a guy that we have to make sure has his… pic.twitter.com/ySoeJhG4fc
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) September 19, 2024
Callahan told reporters, “I do feel the same way. I feel like I would still like to get more touches for Tyjae… I see Tyjae as a really impactful player and a guy that we have to make sure has his requisite touches to help our offense.”
Callahan also talked about how the team has struggled to keep drives alive and the impact that is having on the way Spears’ opportunities look compared to Tony Pollard’s. He also discussed how the injury has made it look even more lopsided after Week 2.
Through two weeks, Spears has 10 carries and six receptions from six targets. He has turned those into 41 rushing yards and 22 receiving yards, which has been extremely underwhelming for fantasy managers.
As a comparison, Pollard has 33 carries and eight receptions from 10 targets. Pollard has rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown while adding a further 62 yards in the receiving game. In a small sample size, Pollard has a 45.5% success rate on runs and a 50% success rate on passing plays. Spears is sitting at a 50% success rate on run plays and 33.3% success on passing plays, suggesting there is not a huge difference between the two.
Ultimately, Spears is a major risk for fantasy managers this week. Not only have we seen a huge discrepancy in his usage compared to Pollard’s through two weeks, but we also have the ankle injury to contend with. Spears could easily aggravate the injury and miss a large chunk of the game. Unless you are desperate, this is a week to leave Spears on the bench in most fantasy leagues.
Who Are the Other Fantasy Options To Consider on Tennesee Titans?
We have already discussed Pollard’s usage this season. Pollard has the 10-highest total of rushing attempts in the NFL. The Titans have been using him like a workhorse running back, and Pollard has the 13th-most rushing yards in the NFL this season. Pollard’s eight rushing first downs are the 12th-most in the NFL.
The Titans trust him within their offensive scheme, which was hampering Spears’ upside before the injury. If Spears is not 100% for Week 3, we can expect hefty totals from Pollard on the ground and through the air, helping to elevate his ranking this week.
The only other back on the Titans’ depth chart is Julius Chestnut. He has not touched the ball on offense since 2022, when he had nine carries for 12 yards as a rookie. He has been active through the first two weeks but has taken just one snap on offense. That may increase if Spears were to miss time, but not to the point where we would consider him a fantasy option.
We will get an indication if Spears is struggling if the Titans elevate Jabari Small from the practice squad on Saturday. The Titans have gone into each game with three active RBs so far this season, and with Chestnut having a big role on special teams, they will likely want that insurance. Small has not played a single snap in the NFL and is unlikely to be a major part of the Titans’ gameplan.