Who Should I Start? Tony Pollard or Kaleb Johnson

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, September 2, 12:51 PM

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie running back Kaleb Johnson is listed as the team's No. 3 RB behind Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell on the team's unofficial Week 1 depth chart. Johnson struggled in the preseason opener but then finished on a high note in the final two games. However, the 22-year-old could have a minimal role to open his first NFL season behind both Warren and Gainwell. The news of Warren's new extension this week was the first sign that fantasy managers might need to pump the brakes on Johnson's value entering Week 1. It doesn't mean that Johnson won't have a key role when all is said and done in 2025, and he still deserves to be rostered in pretty much all fantasy leagues, but we wouldn't suggest starting him in fantasy lineups against the New York Jets this weekend.