Tyjae Spears Fantasy Overview

2024 Summary

Production & Fantasy Finishes

It felt like Spears was never healthy last year.

He tweaked an ankle in Week 2 and then pulled a hamstring in Week 6, missing the next three games. Spears returned for just one full game before sustaining a concussion in Week 11. That cost him another game. Spears was concussed again in Week 17 and missed the season finale.

Spears officially played 12 games last year, finishing 41st among RBs in PPR points per game. If we omit Weeks 2, 6, and 11, his scoring average climbs to 32nd at the position.

Usage & Role

With RB Tony Pollard sidelined for Week 17, Spears got workhorse usage before his concussion. He played 65% of Tennessee’s offensive snaps, drawing 20 carries and four targets.

But in 10 games with a healthy Pollard, Spears was the clear No. 2 RB. Here’s how the work was divvied across those games:

Pollard

• 13.3 carries per game (57.3% share)
• 3.5 targets per game (11.3% share)

Spears

• 5.8 carries per game (25.0% share)
• 2.9 targets per game (9.4% share)

Spears ranked 41st among RBs in expected PPR points per game in those 10 outings.

Efficiency Metrics

Spears mustered just 3.7 yards per carry last year — 44th among 51 RBs with 80+ carries.

He didn’t get much help from an offensive line that ranked 31st in Pro Football Focus’ run-blocking grades and 25th in adjusted line yards. But Spears also ranked just 38th among those 51 RBs in yards after contact per attempt. He was better in terms of missed tackles forced per attempt, finishing 16th.

Spears beat backfield mate Pollard in missed tackles forced per attempt, but Pollard won in yards after contact per attempt and PFF rushing grade.

Spears was more efficient as a receiver, posting an 85.7% catch rate and 7.5 yards per catch. He ranked 18th in yards per target and 13th in yards per route among 40 RBs with 30+ targets.

Spears beat Pollard in both metrics.

Historical Production & Trends

Spears was a more efficient runner in a healthy 2023 rookie season. He averaged 4.5 yards per carry and, among 49 qualifying RBs, ranked:

• 11th in yards after contact per attempt
• 4th in missed tackles forced per attempt
• 32nd in rush yards over expected per attempt
• 21st in Pro Football Focus rush grade

Injury History

Spears tore his right ACL in high school in 2015. He tore that same ACL — and suffered a meniscus tear — at Tulane in 2020. Medical evaluations at the 2023 Combine revealed “a full thickness cartilage loss and no ACL in his knee. Plus arthritis," according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

That knee has held up in the NFL so far. It seems like more of a long-term concern than an issue in 2025.

2025 Expectations

Projected Role & Competition

The Titans added RB Kalel Mullings in the sixth round of this spring’s draft. GM Mike Borgonzi talked up his ability in short-yardage situations, but Mullings is unlikely to be a factor as long as Pollard and Spears are healthy.

HC Brian Callahan said in May that he's looking for a more even distribution of touches this season between Pollard and Spears.

“Hopefully that division of labor gets a little more evenly distributed so [Pollard] doesn't have to take the brunt of it,” Callahan said. “And we can get 17 games out of all those guys at their best.”

Pollard remains the favorite to lead this backfield in touches, but Spears could siphon more work if he stays healthy and rediscovers his rookie-year form.

Supporting Cast

The Titans hope they’ve found a solution at QB in first overall pick Cam Ward. Although his mechanics and accuracy are inconsistent, Ward has plus arm talent and athleticism. He should be an immediate upgrade over last year’s duo of Will Levis and Mason Rudolph.

Tennessee also made some moves to hopefully bolster the offensive line, adding G Kevin Zeitler and OT Dan Moore in free agency. Zeitler is a reliable vet, while Moore is a bit of a wildcard after an up-and-down four seasons in Pittsburgh. 2023 first-round G Peter Skoronski and 2024 first-round RT J.C. Latham are candidates for leaps forward in 2025.

Coaching & Offensive Scheme

Brian Callahan returns for his second season as Titans HC. The year one results were ugly, with Tennessee ranking 26th in total yards and 27th in points. But Callahan never had much of a chance with a QB room of Will Levis and Mason Rudolph.

His results as Bengals OC from 2019 through 2023 were better. Cincinnati ranked top-16 in points in Callahan’s final three seasons, including seventh-place finishes in 2021 and 2022.

All five of Callahan’s Bengals teams registered pass rates north of 58%, with four of them topping 60%. Last year’s Titans threw on just 56.4% of their offensive plays — 19th in the NFL.

That was likely at least partly due to the poor QB play. If Ward proves to be an upgrade, we’d expect the Titans to throw at least a little more in 2025.

Production & Efficiency Trends

Spears should still be on the ascent at 24 years old. In fact, our aging-curve research shows that many RBs peak at 24.

It’s likely that his efficiency dip last season was due to the injuries. Don’t be surprised if he bounces back to his 2023 level of play this season.