TyjaeSpears

News: 4 days agoSpears recorded seven rushes for 26 yards in Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Chargers. He added three receptions on three targets for 36 yards.

Spin: Spears was out-touched only 13-12 by Tony Pollard, with Spears being the primary pass catcher. His most notable contribution was a 26-yard catch that set up a game-tying field goal late in the second quarter. That made up for Spears' lack of efficiency on the ground, as he was held to less than 4.0 yards per carry for the first time since his season debut in Week 5. Positively, Spears has at least three catches in four straight games while also seeing an uptick in his usage as a ball carrier.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Spears is entering his third NFL season after spending the first two in a backup/change-of-pace capacity. He'll miss, at least, the first four games of the season due to injury. The 2023 third-round pick was expected to take on a larger role, but instead was a clear second to Tony Pollard for most of the season. In 11 games with Pollard, Spears trailed in snaps (255 to 381), carries (64 to 150), routes (126 to 161) and targets (32 to 38). Spears saw a late-season boost in usage and scored four TDs in a two-game stretch, but he averaged 7.6 touches and 5.7 fantasy points per game prior to that, and Pollard is still atop the depth chart. Perhaps Spears will carry his late-season momentum into 2025 once he's back on the field, but odds are he'll remain a moderately-used receiving complement to Pollard. He's worth no more than a bench spot.