Who Should I Start? Tony Pollard or Jerome Ford

Thursday, July 10, 1:06 PM

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan is hoping for a more balanced approach to the running game in 2025 between running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears, writes ESPN's Turron Davenport. Pollard had a career-high 260 carries -- more than twice as many as Spears -- and gained 1,079 yards on the ground in 2024. "In a perfect world, it's a healthier division of labor [between Pollard and Spears]," Callahan said. Spears was expected to contribute much more alongside Pollard last year, but he missed five games due to a concussion, ankle sprain and hamstring injury. Some of the Titans' distribution in the backfield in 2025 will include either Julius Chestnut or rookie Kalel Mullings. Pollard has never been more efficient than when he shared the load with Ezekiel Elliott in Dallas, but an inevitable drop in workload this year means fantasy managers need to target him as an RB2 and not as an RB1.

Wednesday, July 9, 3:20 PM

According to Zac Jackson of The Athletic, Cleveland Browns veteran running back Jerome Ford is likely to open the 2025 season in the RB1 role. The team just selected former Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins and former Tennessee running back Dylan Sampson in the first four rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft, so this backfield could be difficult to navigate for fantasy football purposes. However, Ford's familiarity with Kevin Stefanski and his pro experience could give him the early nod. The 25-year-old has flashed at times over the last two seasons, compiling 308 carries for 1,378 yards and seven touchdowns. However, the Browns' selecting two rookie running backs should tell us they are not all that satisfied with Ford as the unquestioned RB1. Even if he starts the season as the touch-leader in the backfield, this will likely be a fluid situation based on which Cleveland ball carrier performs well in the preseason and during the regular season. With the Nick Chubb era officially over, the Browns backfield is being reshaped, and one of Ford, Judkins, or Sampson could be a tremendous value pick.