Despite a Leading Role, Tony Pollard Doesn’t Bring Much Upside in Fantasy Football

There wasn’t much to be excited about with the Tennessee Titans’ offense last season. Cam Ward took over at quarterback, but he didn’t have a lot of talent around him. That contributed to the team averaging only 16.7 points per game. The Titans added playmakers at wide receiver during the offseason, but Tony Pollard remains their leader at running back heading into 2026.

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Mr. Consistent

Pollard shouldered a heavy workload last season, rushing 242 times. Per 4for4’s Player Touches App, he finished with a 41.9% touch rate. To put that into perspective, Jonathan Taylor had a 41.8% touch rate, and Ashton Jeanty had a 41.6% touch rate. His average of 16.2 touches per game ranked 18th among running backs who appeared in at least 14 games.

Pollard turned his hefty workload into 1,082 yards and five touchdowns. That marked his fourth straight season with at least 1,000 rushing yards and five rushing touchdowns. In each of his last three seasons, he received at least 240 carries. Over 23 games since becoming a member of the Titans, he produced six games with at least 100 rushing yards.

The veteran running back has also been a picture of health throughout his career. He has never appeared in fewer than 15 games in a season. In the last three seasons, he has missed a total of one game. Playing all 17 games last year helped him finish 13th in the NFL in rushing attempts. In his first season with the Titans in 2024, he was eighth in rushing attempts.

Changes On Offense

Given their futility on offense last year, the Titans needed to make sweeping changes to their offense. Robert Saleh is their new head coach, and he hired Brian Daboll to be his offensive coordinator. Daboll’s head coaching tenure with the Giants ended on a sour note, but he has a history of being one of the better offensive coordinators in the league. He once filled that role with the Bills, helping Josh Allen emerge as one of the premier quarterbacks in the league.

In addition to better coaching, the Titans also needed an infusion of talent at wide receiver. They used the fourth pick in the 2026 Draft on Carnell Tate, who shined with Ohio State. Daboll also brought over a familiar face in Wan’Dale Robinson, who spent the first four seasons of his career with the Giants. He was their leading receiver last season with Malik Nabers (knee) getting hurt, catching 92 of 140 targets for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns.

The Titans will have a new top option at tight end after Chig Okonkwo signed with the Commanders. Expect to see more of Gunnar Helm, who caught 44 of his 55 targets as a rookie. He was targeted on 23.3% of his routes run, so he could take a significant leap with more snaps likely coming his way. The Titans also signed another former Giant in Daniel Bellinger, who recorded at least 20 yards on four of his 19 receptions last season.

Running Back Depth Chart

While the Titans made a lot of changes in the passing game, their options on the ground remain mostly the same. Pollard should be the lead back, with Tyjae Spears set to be his primary backup. Spears filled that same role last season and finished with only 72 carries over 13 games. The season prior, he finished with just 84 carries. The Titans selected Nicholas Singleton in the fifth round of the 2026 Draft, but he will likely struggle to make much of an impact during his rookie campaign.

Pollard is not a flashy fantasy option, and his ADP reflects that. According to 4for4’s Multi-Site ADP, the veteran running back has an ADP of 73. That puts him as RB28 between Jaylen Warren (ADP 69) and Chuba Hubbard (ADP 75). In his first year with the Titans in 2024, Pollard finished as RB21, per 4for4’s Fantasy Points Browser. Last season, he was RB24. The Titans should be a more competent team on offense this season under a new OC and with better wide receivers for Ward. While that should help Pollard to an extent, it’s not likely to vault him into a higher tier in fantasy. At best, he is a low-end RB2. He’s probably better suited to be a flex option or depth piece in standard-size leagues.

The Bottom Line

• Tony Pollard has been a consistent source of production, posting at least 1,000 rushing yards and five touchdowns in each of the last four seasons.
• The Titans made efforts to improve their offense during the offseason, making Daboll their OC and bringing in Tate and Robinson at wide receiver.
• According to 4for4’s Multi-Site ADP, Pollard has an ADP of 73 and is RB28.
• Pollard should remain in a leading role for the Titans, but even with their new additions, the team’s offense isn’t likely to be among the most potent in the NFL. It’s best to view him as a low-end RB2 in fantasy, or maybe even someone who should be viewed as a flex option.