| {{ column.label }} |
|---|
| {{ column.value }} |
Pollard looks headed for another season as Tennessee's lead back, but the fantasy ceiling is limited. His efficiency has declined for multiple years, Tyjae Spears is likely to siphon passing-down work, and a shaky offense caps the TD upside.
Pollard is a reasonable value if he slips into RB3 range, but don’t expect him to be a needle mover.
Customize Pollard’s projection for your exact league settings inside the Draft War Room.
Pollard ran for 1,082 yards and 5 TDs in 17 games last year, adding 206 yards on 33 catches. He finished 28th among RBs in PPR points per game and 30th in half-PPR.
Pollard did his best work late in the season, averaging 15.5 PPR points (RB14) over his final five games. He finished as a top-24 PPR RB in four of those five games, after doing so in just three of his first 12.
Pollard operated as Tennessee’s lead back throughout the season. Here’s where he ranked among all RBs in key usage metrics:
Pollard’s usage took a hit when RB Tyjae Spears returned from injury in Week 5. Here are the splits:
Pollard’s 10.9 expected PPR points per game from Week 5 on ranked 33rd among RBs.
Pollard registered mediocre rushing efficiency metrics last year. Among 51 RBs with 90+ carries, he ranked:
Pollard beat Spears in yards per carry, yards after contact per attempt, and PFF grade. Spears beat Pollard in missed tackles forced per attempt.
Spears also beat Pollard in yards per route and PFF receiving grade. Pollard struggled in those departments, finishing 38th and 35th, respectively, among 40 qualifying RBs.
Pollard played on a bad Titans team last year that finished 3-14 and trailed for 67.1% of their offensive snaps.
The offense ranked:
Pollard didn’t get much help from his offensive line, either. Tennessee finished 23rd in PFF run-blocking grade and 26th in ESPN run-block win rate.
After spending his first three seasons playing behind Ezekiel Elliott in Dallas, Pollard has produced four straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He’s also averaged 42 catches and 282 receiving yards per year over that span.
Pollard’s finishes among RBs in PPR points per game:
His efficiency has waned, though. After averaging 5.1 yards per carry across his first four seasons, including 5.2 in 2022, he has averaged 4.2 over the last three. He has posted career lows in PFF rushing grade in two straight seasons and has recorded two of his three lowest yards after contact averages over the last two years.
Pollard has also failed to reach 0.8 yards per route in three straight seasons. He averaged 1.46 across his first four seasons.
Volume can still carry Pollard to usable weeks. Betting on his old per-touch juice is the tougher sell.
Pollard has not missed a game with injury in any of the last three seasons. But he did suffer a fractured fibula and high-ankle sprain on his left side in a playoff loss on January 22, 2023. He had surgery a couple of days later and was ready by training camp the following year.
Pollard wasn’t the same player that next season, though, setting career lows in yards per carry (4.0) and yards after contact per carry (2.92).
Pollard returns to Tennessee for the final year of his contract. Spears is also back in a contract year.
The Titans added Nicholas Singleton to the backfield in Round 5 of the draft. He boasts an enticing combination of size and speed but was out-produced by Kaytron Allen at Penn State. The rookie is worth tracking this summer, but HC Robert Saleh made it clear in June that Singleton is the clear No. 3 RB for now.
“He’s learning it all, he’s got a long way to go, from that regard, like all rookies do,” Saleh said of Singleton. “But to be clear, Tony and Tyjae are the bellcows of this football team, and Nick’s got to compete his way in to find his way into that group.”
It’s also interesting, of course, that Saleh called both Pollard and Spears the bellcows. He added this:
“But those two complement each other very, very well. They’re both really, really good third-down backs. I remember last year that you’re not beating Tony 1-on-1 in a protection system. The guy is an elite blocker, and he’s also really good out of the backfield. And then Tyjae is really good from a route-running ability. They do a really nice job complementing one another.”
Pollard remains the favorite to lead this backfield, but a new coaching staff makes the workload more fluid.
The Titans are hoping to get a better Year 2 from QB Cam Ward. He struggled as a rookie, ranking 36th or worse among 42 qualifying QBs in:
Adding WRs Carnell Tate and Wan’Dale Robinson should help.
On the offensive line, the Titans return three starters from last year in LT Dan Moore, RT J.C. Latham, and G Peter Skoronski. There will be competition at the other two spots, with none of the potential winners inspiring.
This projects to again be a subpar-to-bad offensive line.
The Titans will be operating a new offense this season under OC Brian Daboll. He flamed out as Giants HC but had a nice run as Bills OC from 2018-2021.
Daboll has shown a willingness to tailor his play-calling to his personnel. His later Bills teams leaned pass with Josh Allen, but the Giants shifted toward the run with much worse QB play. Expect Tennessee's offense to land somewhere between balanced and run-leaning, depending on Ward’s development.
Pollard is the favorite to lead Tennessee in carries. If he can maintain a decent-sized role in the passing game alongside Spears, and this offense improves significantly in Cam Ward’s second season, Pollard could score as a fantasy RB2.
Pollard is a 29-year-old back with waning efficiency. He projects to lose passing-down work to Spears, and could lose more carries to Spears and/or Singleton this year.
Plus, this Titans offense will struggle again if Ward doesn’t play better.
Pollard’s floor sinks below RB3 territory.
Unable to load trends.
No trend data is available.
No trend data is available.
Tony Pollard Will Play, Tyjae Spears Questionable For Week 3
Tony Pollard Will Play, Tyjae Spears Questionable For Week 3
Titans RB Tony Pollard (ankle) is off the final Week 3 injury report. He only got in limited practices on Thursday and Friday but is evidently in no danger of missing this weekend’s game vs. the Giants. RB Tyjae Spears (ankle) is listed as questionable after only putting in a limited practice on Friday. His absence would make Pollard a more appealing RB3 or flex start.
Tony Pollard Back Thursday, Tyjae Spears Still Out
Tony Pollard Back Thursday, Tyjae Spears Still Out
Titans RB Tony Pollard (ankle) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. That should have him on track to play vs. the Giants this weekend. RB Tyjae Spears (ankle) is in danger of missing that one after remaining sidelined on Thursday. His absence would boost Pollard's Week 3 outlook, particularly in terms of targets. Check back tomorrow for another update on this backfield.
Tony Pollard & Tyjae Spears Out Wednesday
Tony Pollard & Tyjae Spears Out Wednesday
Titans RBs Tony Pollard (ankle) and Tyjae Spears (ankle) were sidelined for Wednesday's practice. HC Robert Saleh said both guys are dealing with "soreness." We'll see if they're able to get back on the field tomorrow. Nicholas Singleton would be the best bet for touches in Tennessee's backfield if both Pollard and Spears miss Sunday's game vs. the Giants. The rookie is worth stashing in deep fantasy leagues.
Titans Run with Surprising Effectiveness vs. Eagles
Titans Run with Surprising Effectiveness vs. Eagles
Tennessee RBs averaged 4.6 yards per carry in Sunday's narrow home loss to Philadelphia. Tony Pollard led with 64 yards on 14 carries (4.6 per rush). Tyjae Spears followed with 41 yards on 7 attempts (5.9). Rookie Nicholas Singleton added 10 yards on four third-quarter rushes. Singleton's action came entirely on one drive, while Spears was out with an apparent left-leg issue. But Spears later returned.
Brian Daboll Talks RB Usage, and You're Not Gonna Like What He Said
Brian Daboll Talks RB Usage, and You're Not Gonna Like What He Said
A reporter asked Titans OC Brian Daboll on Thursday about his backfield plan, and Daboll invoked all the phrases that fantasy managers hate to hear if they're hoping to start a team's RB.
See whether Tony Pollard is available in your leagues.
Sign In to Check Your LeaguesNo related articles are available yet.
You have our personal money-back guarantee: If you’re not happy with our service for any reason, just reach out by December 31, 2026, and we’ll give you 100% of this purchase back. No strings attached. You can cancel with one-click from your account page anytime.
