Tony Pollard ($5,400) handled a true workhorse role with Tyjae Spears ($4,900) on IR for the first four games of the season, but with Spears now back in the picture, things have begun to change for this backfield.
Spears has been active the last two weeks and, after logging 25.4% of the snaps in his season debut, Spears’ snap rate more than doubled last Sunday vs. the Raiders to 59%. Meanwhile, Pollard’s snap rate in these past two games has decreased from 73.1% to a season-low 42.6%.
In that loss to Las Vegas in Week 6, Pollard still led the way on the ground with 10 carries, but that is the fewest amount of rushes he has seen in a game this season by four carries. Spears, on the other hand, saw a season-high five rushes. Notably, neither back saw a carry in the red zone. In the passing game, Spears was far more involved, seeing five targets on 24 routes, while Pollard saw two targets on just 13 routes.
The Titans trailed for the entirety of this matchup with the Raiders and, with Tennessee forced to throw it a high clip, Spears saw more snaps, which should always be the case in games that Tennessee mostly sees a negative game script, given he is the more effective pass catcher than Pollard. However, in games that the Titans lead and want to drain the clock, Pollard should lead the way in playing time, as the team’s main rusher.
This Sunday, Tennessee is hosting a 4-2 Patriots team that has won three games in a row and New England is a seven-point favorite for this tilt on DraftKings Sportsbook. Once again, the Titans are very likely to trail for most of this contest, which should result in Spears out-snapping Pollard for the second straight week. Not only does the likely flow of this game favor Spears over Pollard, but so does this matchup, with the Patriots being a true pass funnel defense, that is weak through the air, but stout on the ground. This season, New England is giving up the most yards per pass (7.9), but the third-fewest yards per rush (3.5).
Spears could be especially busy as a receiver vs. the Patriots if Calvin Ridley (hamstring) misses this contest. The wideout is leading Tennessee with a 19% target share this season and, as of Wednesday, Ridley has yet to practice this week. All in all, Spears is the better option over Pollard in this matchup with New England and the former is a solid GPP play on DraftKings at only $4,900, that shouldn’t come with much ownership. Spears makes a ton of sense as a bring back option for Patriots stacks.
