Who Should I Start? Tyjae Spears or Emari Demercado

Monday, October 6, 9:09 PM

Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears made his return in Week 5 from a high ankle that kept him out for the first four games of the season. Spears saw limited usage in his first game back, playing 17 total snaps and recording four carries for 14 yards against the Arizona Cardinals. However, Titans head coach Brian Callahan said Spears' role will increase in future weeks, per Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com. The 24-year-old recorded 536 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns on 114 total touches across 12 games last season. Spears and Titans back Tony Pollard will split backfield work to some degree once Spears is fully healthy and re-integrated into the offense. For now, Spears should be rostered by fantasy managers, but likely cannot be trusted as a starter in Week 6 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Sunday, October 5, 12:26 PM

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado "will stay in the same role" on third downs. Meanwhile, Michael Carter will take over on first and second downs with Trey Benson (knee) out four to six weeks after having surgery on his meniscus. James Conner (ankle) has already been lost for the year, so the Cardinals' backfield depth is being tested early on. Arizona could plan more designed runs for slippery quarterback Kyler Murray, too. Demercado had two carries for eight yards and caught both of his targets for 13 yards and a touchdown in the Week 4 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. While the 26-year-old will be more involved with Benson out, it's Carter that should see more volume, and thus be a better flex play in fantasy lineups, starting this Sunday against the winless Tennessee Titans. Demercado is a better flex option in PPR formats.