Tyjae Spears 2024 Outlook: Electric Athlete With Pathway To Increased Opportunities
7 months agoDerrick Henry is out and Tony Pollard is in. That's a big difference, and one that should grant 2nd-year back Tyjae Spears a few extra opportunities this season. When thrust into a workhorse role last season, Pollard saw his efficiency drop off significantly. It's clear he's better with a lighter workload, like how he operated with Ezekiel Elliott in Dallas from 2019-2022. That to say, the Titans would be better off with Pollard in a part-time role as opposed to letting him shoulder the load. That's where Spears comes in. In fact, Titans head coach Brian Callahan has referred to his running backs as interchangeable on multiple occasions this offseason. However, Spears flashed a ton of potential as a rookie that has many excited for his prospects this season. Per PlayerProfiler, he was 5th among running backs in yards created per touch (4.58) and breakaway run rate (7.0%). Spears was also 11th in yards per route run (1.52) and had a target share of 14.7%. It's possible the Titans start the season with both guys alternating series', but when push comes to shove, one guy is just 23 years old coming off a fantastic rookie season, and the other guy saw his efficiency tank with a heavier workload. Spears has skillset to take this job and run with it if he gets off to a fast start. Consider him an RB3 with RB2 upside in 2024.