Tyjae Spears

Spears is playing out the final year of his rookie deal in 2026, which creates motivation but also leaves his post-2026 team and role unresolved heading into free agency.

A concussion history (two in 2024) is a lingering durability flag even though he enters the 2026 season healthy with no missed-game injury designation.

Overall opportunity remains thin (WOPR 0.14, ~46% snap share) since Tony Pollard holds the early-down work, capping Spears' weekly ceiling within the current backfield split.

Target share trended up across the close of the prior season (up to 21% by the finale) and the coaching staff has described Spears and Pollard as co-bellcow backs under a more pass-oriented scheme, suggesting further receiving-role growth is plausible.

Spears has ranked among the top-10 running backs in catches in multiple seasons, giving him a stable PPR floor independent of the ground-game split with Pollard.

Tennessee used only a fifth-round pick at running back in the 2026 draft class, leaving Spears' passing-down niche largely uncontested by rookie competition.