Who Should I Start? Tony Pollard or Carson Steele

Wednesday, August 6, 1:06 PM

Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard is listed as the RB1 on the team's first unofficial preseason depth chart ahead of Tyjae Spears. Meanwhile, Spears is listed as the co-RB2 with rookie Kalel Mullings. Head coach Brian Callahan has envisioned more of an even split in this year's backfield between Pollard and Spears, and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler said earlier this week that "people I've talked to in Tennessee believe Spears has positioned himself for an uptick" in opportunities after he averaged 9.5 touches per game last year. Assuming everyone is healthy, Pollard is probably the RB1, but the margin figures to shrink between he and Spears in 2025. It puts Pollard more on the RB2/3 borderline, while Spears is a decent RB4/flex target in PPR leagues or as a handcuff to Pollard. In his first year in Tennessee, Pollard had a career-high 1,079 rushing yards and five TDs on 260 carries.

Tuesday, August 26, 11:48 AM

The Kansas City Chiefs have released running back Carson Steele, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. An undrafted free agent signee in 2024, Steele earned some playing time early last season for Kansas City and finished the year with 56 carries for 183 yards. The Chiefs have much better depth at the position heading into 2025 after bringing back veteran Kareem Hunt, signing Elijah Mitchell in free agency, and using a seventh-round pick on Brashard Smith. With Steele now out of the picture, Hunt, Mitchell, and Smith will compete for touches in Kansas City behind undisputed RB1 Isiah Pacheco.