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Dynasty Player Spotlight: Tyjae Spears

By C. H. Herms | Updated on Mon, 30 Oct 2023 . 5:29 PM EDT

Let's Try to Pan for Some Dynasty Gold

Week 7 had so many notable storylines that it was difficult to focus on just one for this article.

That’s what makes developing a good topic for this every week challenging.

Let's hit on some contenders on the way to our main event ...

We Can't Not Talk Puka

Rams WR Puka Nacua is averaging 8.29 receptions per game. At this rate, he could surpass the rookie record of 104 catches set by Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle (2021) in just 13 games.

Nacua’s 17-game pace of 140.9 receptions and 1,825.8 receiving yards would compare favorably with the 2015 career highs of former Steelers WR Antonio Brown (136-1,834 in 16 games).

This kid might be extraordinary!

Of course, we already covered Nacua in this space. So there's not a whole lot more to say about him right now.

Have You Done Enough?

Conversely, Patriots rookie WR Demario Douglas is interesting ... but interesting enough to have the spotlight to himself?

Douglas did finish Sunday’s game vs. the Bills with 4 catches and 54 receiving yards. He's tied with JuJu Smith-Schuster for the Patriots lead with a 25% target per route rate.

There's room for Douglas to grow his role the rest of the way, especially considering the injuries and general lackluster play of Patriots WRs.

But can the rookie actually become a difference maker?

Stash him on your taxi squad if he’s available. But this isn't the type of moves that’ll help you bring home any hardware in 2023.

If that's what you're looking for, then maybe this next rookie can help ...

Get Ahead of the News

You already know who Titans RB Tyjae Spears is. He’s a talented, already-on-the-radar rookie. It's probably not going to shock you if I say he's worth buying.

But here's why you should acquire Spears now ... 

His Team is Selling

On Monday, the Titans traded former All-Pro S Kevin Byard to the Eagles for fifth- and sixth-round picks and veteran S Terrell Edmunds.

This deal has nothing to do with Spears directly, but let’s be real about where the Titans currently stand.

Tennessee sits 2-4 coming off its bye. The offense ranks:

• 28th in yards per game (283.5)
• 25th in points per game (17.3)
• 31st in red-zone scoring rate (33.3%)

QB Ryan Tannehill suffered a high-ankle sprain his last time out, in the same ankle that cost him five games last year.

Now the team turns to rookie QB Will Levis, probably for multiple games. Combine that with the Byard trade, and you get a team that looks like it's heading into rebuild mode.

Here’s where Spears gets more interesting. 

A Battle For The Throne

Since 2019, Titans RB Derrick Henry has operated as one of the league's last workhorses.

He leads NFL RBs in carries (1,249) since then and hasn't fallen below a 78.5% share of Titans RB touches.

Henry's reign as a backfield king appears to be over, however.

He has still gotten 75% of RB carries so far in 2023. But Spears has played 50.8% of snaps and reduced Henry’s opportunity share (including targets) to 68.5%.

Spears has also produced more efficiently for fantasy. He’s averaging 0.96 PPR points per opportunity (sixth among RBs) vs. Henry’s 0.79 (22nd).

The rookie has proved especially useful as a receiver, drawing more targets (20) and catching more passes (15) than Henry (13 and 11, respectively) to date. 

Next Step: Henry Trade?

If the Titans are embracing the rebuild, why not trade Henry by the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline?

The soon-to-be 30-year-old back was the subject of multiple trade rumors this offseason. The only hurdle might be actually getting a worthwhile return from the acquiring team.

Even if Henry isn’t moved, though, he's in the final year of his contract. That sets Spears -- a third-round pick -- as the favorite to lead the 2024 backfield.

That’s why Spears sits 17th in our dynasty RB rankings.

Remember The Goal

Look, the person in your league who rosters Spears is probably aware of all the circumstances discussed in this article.

Spears has:

• been very good on a limited workload
• plays in one of the NFL's run-heaviest offenses, and
• could be an RB1 in the near future.

You probably can't buy "low" on him at this point. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't go after him.

Not every move you make in your dynasty leagues has to be a sneaky buy-low. Your primary objective in playing dynasty isn’t to be the most clever manager.

It’s to be the one who wins the league.

Put out some feelers and see if you can get Spears on your roster today.

Still Chasing That Elusive Dynasty Title?

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