Who Should I Start? Tony Pollard or Brock Purdy

Thursday, February 12, 7:11 AM

Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard didn't quite live up to expectations during the 2025 season, finishing the year with 1,082 rushing yards, 206 receiving yards, and five touchdowns. He did still manage to finish as the RB23 in full-PPR leagues, but his fantasy scoring was a bit skewed due to a three-week stretch during which he exploded for 367 yards and three touchdowns. It seemed like Pollard's 2025 fantasy value would hinge on whether Tyjae Spears played well, but in reality, both Pollard and Spears saw their outputs depend on the state of the Titans' offense. Tennessee limped to the finish line with the second-worst offense in terms of total yards, making it difficult for either running back to make much of a fantasy impact. Heading into 2026, we can't rule out a shakeup to the Titans' backfield. The Titans structured Pollard's three-year deal to give them a potential out prior to the third season, and the clock is now ticking on that decision. The Titans could be incentivized to release the veteran running back; doing so would create $7.25 million in cap savings with just $2 million in dead money. If he does hit the open market, Pollard would likely be viewed as a 1B running back -- someone who can join a backfield with another average ball-carrier. Of course, fantasy managers would prefer that team to be a contender so that Pollard can consistently handle valuable and meaningful touches in 2026. With so much uncertainty, dynasty managers might consider selling high on Pollard and using his RB23 finish to tempt other managers into a deal.

Friday, January 16, 3:24 PM

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was far from perfect in his team's Wild Card Weekend win over the Philadelphia Eagles. The 26-year-old completed 18 of 31 pass attempts for 262 yards and two touchdowns, but he also threw two interceptions. Dating back to the regular season, Purdy has now thrown an interception in four consecutive games. In the Divisional Round, San Francisco will travel to Seattle to take on the Seahawks. Seattle completely shut Purdy down in the regular season finale for both teams, holding Purdy to 19 of 27 passing for 127 yards, zero touchdowns, and a pick. The Seahawks defense was dominant throughout the regular season, finishing first in the NFL in yards per pass attempt allowed (6.0) and tied for seventh in sacks (47). Making matters worse for Purdy, he'll be without one of his top receiving weapons in tight end George Kittle (Achilles), who suffered a season-ending torn Achilles tendon in the Wild Card Round. Given the matchup and San Francisco's depleted pass-catching corps, Purdy profiles as a quarterback for fantasy managers to avoid in the Divisional Round.