The Titans are placing RB Tyjae Spears on IR, knocking him out for the first four games of the season, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Spears suffered a high-ankle sprain in Tennessee's preseason opener on August 9. It was obviously a significant injury to land him on IR. Spears was still in a walking boot this past weekend.
2025 Fantasy Football Impact
This news makes Spears tough to roster outside of fantasy leagues without IR spots. When healthy, he remains an intriguing bench stash as the Tony Pollard handcuff and a potential standalone fantasy option. But you can probably add Spears off waivers in late September.
Spears' absence should make Pollard a workhorse for at least the first four games of the season. In five games without Spears last year, Pollard averaged:
- 22.0 carries
- 92.8 rushing yards
- 3.6 targets
- 2.2 catches
- 12.6 receiving yards
- 0.2 TDs
Pollard's 13.9 PPR points per game in those five outings would have ranked 21st among RBs on the season. He'll be a rock-solid RB2 with RB1 upside for the first four weeks.
Julius Chestnut and Kalel Mullings will be Tennessee's No. 2 and 3 RBs until Spears returns. Neither is worth rostering outside of the deepest of fantasy leagues.