The Titans' Fate Rests On Cam Ward's Right Arm

Tennessee Titans 2026 Overview

Schedule

Wins

Play Calling

Key Additions

• RB Nick Singleton
• WR Carnell Tate
• WR Wan'Dale Robinson
• TE Daniel Bellinger

Key Departures

• TE Chig Okonkwo

Notable Coaching Changes

• HC Brian Callahan and OC Nick Holz out
• HC Robert Saleh and OC Brian Daboll in

Cam Ward

2025 Role & Results

Just One Top-12 Finish

Ward threw for 3,169 yards, 15 TDs, and 7 INTs across 17 games last year. His 186.4 passing yards per game ranked 31st among 42 QBs that made 4+ starts.

Ward added 159 yards and two scores on the ground to finish 37th among QBs in fantasy points per game.

He turned in just one top-12 finish and landed outside the top 20 QBs in 10 of 17 outings.

An Ugly Season Ends With Some Promise

Ward was one of the least effective passers in the league last year by most metrics. Among 42 QBs with 150+ attempts, he ranked:

• 36th in completion rate
• 37th in adjusted completion rate
• 35th in completion rate over expected
• 34th in on-target pass rate
• 39th in yards per attempt
• 37th in adjusted yards per attempt
• 41st in TD rate
• 38th in Pro Football Focus pass grade

Ward at least showed improvement down the stretch, throwing 2 TDs in each of his final four full games. His three best adjusted yards per attempt marks and two of his three best PFF passing grades also came over his final three outings.

Ward Was In An Impossible Spot

Ward didn’t get much help from his supporting cast last year.

Calvin Ridley was supposed to be Tennessee’s No. 1 WR but played just seven games. That left these guys as the team's top five targets:

• Elic Ayomanor
• Chig Okonkwo
• Chimere Dike
• Gunnar Helm
• Van Jefferson

The Titans ranked 27th in Pro Football Focus receiving grade.

The offensive line was a bit better, finishing 13th in PFF pass-blocking grade and 16th in ESPN pass-block win rate.

Ward also dealt with a midseason coaching change after Tennessee fired HC Brian Callahan in October.

Don't Forget About What Made Him The No. 1 Pick

Ward was the first overall pick of the 2025 draft after a highly productive college career.

He dominated at Incarnate Word, winning Freshman of the Year honors in 2020 and then leading the FCS with 47 passing TDs in 2021.

Ward parlayed that success into a starting job at Washington State, where he threw for 6,968 yards and 48 TDs on a 65.5% completion rate across the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He tacked on another 12 scores on the ground.

Ward then set career highs at Miami in 2024 in:

• Completion rate (67.2%)
• Passing yards (4,313)
• Yards per attempt (9.5)

He was named a first-team All-American and won the Davey O’Brien Award given to the nation’s top QB.

That résumé is why Tennessee is still betting on a Year 2 jump, and why fantasy managers should not write Ward off after one ugly season.

Last Year's Shoulder Injury Not A Concern

Ward sprained the AC joint in his right shoulder in last year’s finale but avoided surgery and was able to throw in OTAs and minicamp. It shouldn’t impact his 2026 season.

Ward did not miss any time with injury in college.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

The Titans Still Believe In Ward

A disappointing rookie season and new coaching staff won't change Ward's status as Tennessee’s 2026 starter.

“I think it’s safe to say that we’ve got a really, really good QB, and we’re in really good hands,” HC Robert Saleh said in June.

“I’m very pleased with where he’s at,” OC Brian Daboll added. “He understands the offense well. I think his feet are really good. His eye discipline, his vision down the field. I’ve been pleased with his progress. Cam can make all the throws. He’s gonna be a good QB.”

A Much-Improved Supporting Cast

The Titans clearly focused on upgrading Ward’s situation this offseason.

They spent the fourth pick of the draft on WR Carnell Tate. He’s coming off a strong junior season at Ohio State, tallying 875 yards and 9 TDs across 11 games. The 6'2, 192-pounder is a smooth mover with downfield chops and excellent ball skills. He has the potential to emerge as a legitimate No. 1 WR.

Tennessee also ponied up $70 million over the next four seasons to land WR Wan’Dale Robinson. He has racked up 185 catches and 1,713 yards over the last 2 years and spent the last 4 years under former Giants HC and current Titans OC Brian Daboll.

The Titans return Ridley plus a pair of capable pass-catching RBs in Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears.

Daboll Has Helped A Young QB Before

Ward will be working in a new offense after the Titans canned HC Brian Callahan and his staff and hired Saleh and Daboll.

Daboll flamed out as Giants HC but had a nice run as Bills OC from 2018-2021. That coincided with QB Josh Allen’s first four seasons, when he went from unpolished rookie to NFL star.

Here’s how Allen progressed in fantasy points per game under Daboll:

• 2018: 20th
• 2019: 13th
• 2020: fourth
• 2021: first

Daboll also coaxed a QB14 finish out of Daniel Jones in his first season in New York. Jaxson Dart ranked third among QBs in fantasy points per game in seven starts under Daboll last year.

Paths to Ceiling

Ward still boasts the arm talent and athleticism that made him the No. 1 overall pick of 2025. He’s capable of taking a leap in Year 2 with a new coaching staff and improved supporting cast.

If the offense clicks, Ward could emerge as a strong QB2 and spot-start QB1.

Risk Factors

An improved supporting cast doesn't guarantee that Ward will be better this season. If he doesn’t grow as a passer, he could once again be a non-factor in fantasy football.

Tony Pollard

2025 Role & Results

Late Hot Stretch Leads To RB3 Finish

Pollard ran for 1,082 yards and 5 TDs in 17 games last year, adding 206 yards on 33 catches. He finished 28th among RBs in PPR points per game and 30th in half-PPR.

Pollard did his best work late in the season, averaging 15.5 PPR points (RB14) over his final five games. He finished as a top-24 PPR RB in four of those five games, after doing so in just three of his first 12.

Tyjae Spears Siphoned Some Work

Pollard operated as Tennessee’s lead back throughout the season. Here’s where he ranked among all RBs in key usage metrics:

• 15th in snap rate
• 28th in route rate
• 13th in carries
• fifth in carry share
• 22nd in targets
• 37th in target share
• 28th in expected PPR points per game

Pollard’s usage took a hit when RB Tyjae Spears returned from injury in Week 5. Here are the splits:

Pollard’s 10.9 expected PPR points per game from Week 5 on ranked 33rd among RBs.

The Efficiency Was Uninspiring

Pollard registered mediocre rushing efficiency metrics last year. Among 51 RBs with 90+ carries, he ranked: 

• 20th in yards per carry
• 25th in rush yards over expected per attempt
• 13th in yards after contact per attempt
• 38th in missed tackles forced per attempt
• 42nd in Pro Football Focus rushing grade

Pollard beat Spears in yards per carry, yards after contact per attempt, and PFF grade. Spears beat Pollard in missed tackles forced per attempt.

Spears also beat Pollard in yards per route and PFF receiving grade. Pollard struggled in those departments, finishing 38th and 35th, respectively, among 40 qualifying RBs.

The Supporting Cast Didn't Help

Pollard played on a bad Titans team last year that finished 3-14 and trailed for 67.1% of their offensive snaps.

The offense ranked:

• 26th in plays
• 31st in total yards
• 30th in yards per play
• 30th in points

Pollard didn’t get much help from his offensive line, either. Tennessee finished 23rd in PFF run-blocking grade and 26th in ESPN run-block win rate.

A 1,000-Yard Rusher With Waning Efficiency

After spending his first three seasons playing behind Ezekiel Elliott in Dallas, Pollard has produced four straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He’s also averaged 42 catches and 282 receiving yards per year over that span.

Pollard’s finishes among RBs in PPR points per game:

• 2022: 10th
• 2023: 23rd
• 2024: 22nd
• 2025: 28th

His efficiency has waned, though. After averaging 5.1 yards per carry across his first four seasons, including 5.2 in 2022, he has averaged 4.2 over the last three. He has posted career lows in PFF rushing grade in two straight seasons and has recorded two of his three lowest yards after contact averages over the last two years.

Pollard has also failed to reach 0.8 yards per route in three straight seasons. He averaged 1.46 across his first four seasons.

Volume can still carry Pollard to usable weeks. Betting on his old per-touch juice is the tougher sell.

He's Been Healthy Lately

Pollard has not missed a game with injury in any of the last three seasons. But he did suffer a fractured fibula and high-ankle sprain on his left side in a playoff loss on January 22, 2023. He had surgery a couple of days later and was ready by training camp the following year.

Pollard wasn’t the same player that next season, though, setting career lows in yards per carry (4.0) and yards after contact per carry (2.92).

2026 Opportunity & Projection

Spears A Bigger Threat Than Singleton

Pollard returns to Tennessee for the final year of his contract. Spears is also back in a contract year.

The Titans added Nicholas Singleton to the backfield in Round 5 of the draft. He boasts an enticing combination of size and speed but was out-produced by Kaytron Allen at Penn State. The rookie is worth tracking this summer, but HC Robert Saleh made it clear in June that Singleton is the clear No. 3 RB for now.

“He’s learning it all, he’s got a long way to go, from that regard, like all rookies do,” Saleh said of Singleton. “But to be clear, Tony and Tyjae are the bellcows of this football team, and Nick’s got to compete his way in to find his way into that group.”

It’s also interesting, of course, that Saleh called both Pollard and Spears the bellcows. He added this:

“But those two complement each other very, very well. They’re both really, really good third-down backs. I remember last year that you’re not beating Tony 1-on-1 in a protection system. The guy is an elite blocker, and he’s also really good out of the backfield. And then Tyjae is really good from a route-running ability. They do a really nice job complementing one another.”

Pollard remains the favorite to lead this backfield, but a new coaching staff makes the workload more fluid.

Offense Could Make A Leap, But O-Line Remains A Problem

The Titans are hoping to get a better Year 2 from QB Cam Ward. He struggled as a rookie, ranking 36th or worse among 42 qualifying QBs in:

• Completion rate
• Adjusted completion rate
• Yards per attempt
• TD rate
• Pro Football Focus pass grade

Adding WRs Carnell Tate and Wan’Dale Robinson should help.

On the offensive line, the Titans return three starters from last year in LT Dan Moore, RT J.C. Latham, and G Peter Skoronski. There will be competition at the other two spots, with none of the potential winners inspiring.

This projects to again be a subpar-to-bad offensive line.

Expect Balanced Offense From New Staff

The Titans will be operating a new offense this season under OC Brian Daboll. He flamed out as Giants HC but had a nice run as Bills OC from 2018-2021. 

Daboll has shown a willingness to tailor his play-calling to his personnel. His later Bills teams leaned pass with Josh Allen, but the Giants shifted toward the run with much worse QB play. Expect Tennessee's offense to land somewhere between balanced and run-leaning, depending on Ward’s development.

Paths to Ceiling

Pollard is the favorite to lead Tennessee in carries. If he can maintain a decent-sized role in the passing game alongside Spears, and this offense improves significantly in Cam Ward’s second season, Pollard could score as a fantasy RB2.

Risk Factors

Pollard is a 29-year-old back with waning efficiency. He projects to lose passing-down work to Spears, and could lose more carries to Spears and/or Singleton this year.

Plus, this Titans offense will struggle again if Ward doesn’t play better.

Pollard’s floor sinks below RB3 territory.

Tyjae Spears

2025 Role & Results

Unreliable Spike Weeks

Spears carried 72 times for 283 yards and caught 45 balls for 264 yards across 13 games last year. He finished RB42 in PPR points per game and RB50 in half-PPR.

Spears spiked for four top-22 PPR finishes but also ranked outside the top 40 four times.

Biggest Contributions Came In Passing Game

Spears operated as a change-of-pace, pass-catching back behind Tony Pollard last year. Here’s how they split usage in their 13 games together:

Spears’ 9.1 expected PPR points per game ranked 41st among RBs

Much Better Receiver Than Runner

Spears struggled on the ground last year, mustering just 3.9 yards per carry. He ranked 40th in yards after contact per attempt and 48th in Pro Football Focus rushing grade among 58 RBs with 70+ carries. He did, at least, beat Pollard in missed tackles forced per attempt (0.18 to 0.16).

Spears performed much better in the passing game, hauling in 90% of his targets. Even with just 5.9 yards per catch, his 1.23 yards per route ranked 16th among 40 RBs with 30+ targets, and he ranked third in PFF receiving grade.

The Titans Offense Stunk

Spears played on a bad Titans offense that ranked:

• 26th in plays
• 31st in total yards
• 30th in yards per play
• 30th in points

The offensive line didn’t offer much help, either. Tennessee finished 23rd in PFF run-blocking grade and 26th in ESPN run-block win rate.

Can Spears Become More Than A Receiving Back?

Spears has been a productive and efficient pass catcher through three NFL seasons. He ranks 13th among RBs in total receptions and 14th in receiving yards over that span. He has topped 1.2 yards per route in all three years.

Spears has seen relatively light rushing usage, though, going from 5.9 carries per game in 2023 to 7.0 in 2024 and 5.5 last year. After averaging 4.5 yards per carry as a rookie, he has mustered just 3.8 over the last two.

Spears also underwhelmed in advanced rushing metrics in 2024, ranking 38th in yards after contact per attempt and 40th in PFF grade among 53 qualifiers.

The Medical Risk Hasn't Gone Away

Spears played 17 games as a rookie. But he missed five games in 2024 with two concussions, an ankle sprain, and a hamstring injury. He then missed the first four games of 2025 after suffering a high right ankle sprain in the preseason.

His right knee also remains a concern. Spears tore that ACL in high school and again at Tulane in 2020. Medical evaluations before the 2023 NFL Draft revealed he has no remaining ACL in the knee, along with cartilage loss and arthritis.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

New Staff Creates Path For Spears

Spears returns to the Titans’ backfield alongside Pollard. Both guys are entering the final year of their contracts. 

The Titans added Nicholas Singleton in Round 5 of the draft. He boasts an enticing combination of size and speed but was out-produced by Kaytron Allen at Penn State. The rookie is worth tracking this summer, but HC Robert Saleh made it clear in June that Singleton is the clear No. 3 RB for now.

“He’s learning it all, he’s got a long way to go, from that regard, like all rookies do,” Saleh said of Singleton. “But to be clear, Tony and Tyjae are the bellcows of this football team, and Nick’s got to compete his way in to find his way in to that group.”

It’s also interesting, of course, that Saleh called both Pollard and Spears the bellcows. He added this:

“But those two complement each other very, very well. They’re both really, really good third-down backs. I remember last year that you’re not beating Tony 1-on-1 in a protection system. The guy is an elite blocker, and he’s also really good out of the backfield. And then Tyjae is really good from a route-running ability. They do a really nice job complementing one another.”

Consider Pollard the favorite to lead this backfield, but the new coaching staff gives Spears a path to earn more work.

Offense Could Make A Leap, But O-Line Remains A Problem

The Titans are hoping to get a better Year 2 from QB Cam Ward. He struggled as a rookie, ranking 36th or worse among 42 qualifying QBs in:

• Completion rate
• Adjusted completion rate
• Yards per attempt
• TD rate
• PFF pass grade

Adding WRs Carnell Tate and Wan’Dale Robinson should help.

On the offensive line, the Titans return three starters from last year in LT Dan Moore, RT J.C. Latham, and G Peter Skoronski. There will be competition at the other two spots, with none of the potential winners inspiring.

This projects to again be a subpar to downright bad offensive line.

Expect Balanced Offense From New Staff

The Titans will be operating a new offense this season under OC Brian Daboll. He flamed out as Giants HC but had a nice run as Bills OC from 2018-2021. 

Daboll has been willing to adjust his play-calling based on his personnel. His later Bills teams leaned pass under QB Josh Allen, but the Giants shifted toward the run with much worse QB play. Expect this Titans offense to be balanced to run-leaning, depending on Ward’s development.

Paths to Ceiling

Spears has established himself as a strong pass-catching back and should retain those duties this year. He has a chance to steal more carries from Pollard, a 29-year-old with waning efficiency. And Tennessee’s offense could improve in QB Cam Ward’s second year and with a new coaching staff.

There’s fringe RB2 upside here.

Risk Factors

Spears hasn’t been productive or efficient on the ground in either of the last two seasons. He faces new competition this year from Singleton, who boasts impressive size and speed.

Spears has also missed significant time in each of the last two seasons and still has long-term concerns with his right knee.

Carnell Tate

College Career Was A Slow Burn

Buried Behind Elite Talent Early

Tate arrived at Ohio State as a four-star recruit but struggled to find playing time in a stacked WR room.

The Buckeyes returned Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, and Julian Fleming in 2023, leaving Tate in a rotational role. He finished with 18 catches, 264 yards, and 1 TD as a freshman.

Stuck Behind Another Future Star

Harrison departed in 2024, but Ohio State added another superstar.

Freshman Jeremiah Smith exploded onto the scene, joining Egbuka as the focal points of the passing game. Tate still carved out a significant role, catching 52 passes for 733 yards and 4 TDs despite operating in a run-leaning offense that averaged just 28.4 pass attempts per game.

His raw production lagged behind Smith and Egbuka, but context matters. Smith looks destined for Top 5 NFL Draft capital in 2027, while Egbuka became a first-round pick in 2025.

Tate remained efficient, hauling in 77.6% of his targets and averaging 14.1 yards per catch. He closed the season with one of his best performances, leading Ohio State with 7 catches and 87 yards in the national semifinal against Texas.

Breakout Finally Arrives

With Egbuka off to the NFL, Tate entered 2025 poised for a featured role and delivered immediately.

Through the first eight games, he totaled 39 catches, 711 yards, and 7 TDs. He just barely trailed Smith in yards (725) and TDs (9) over that span.

A calf injury cost Tate the next three games, but he returned to finish his junior season with 875 yards and 9 TDs in just 11 games.

Among 270 FBS WRs with 50+ targets last year, Tate ranked:

• first in yards per target
• 10th in yards per route
• fourth in Pro Football Focus receiving grade

Tate emerged as one of college football's premier downfield weapons, scoring 5 TDs of 40+ yards. He paired that vertical ability with impressive ball skills, catching 85.7% of his contested targets and recording zero drops.

Perhaps most impressive, Tate maintained a 77.3% catch rate even as his average target depth jumped from 11.3 yards in 2024 to 14.6 in 2025.

In fantasy terms, Tate has the production and big-play juice to beat the usual rookie learning curve.

What The Film Says

Advanced Route Running Creates Separation

Tate consistently wins with technique rather than pure athleticism. He can defeat press coverage and flashes efficient footwork in his routes.

He understands leverage, creates separation at every level of the field, and has the ball skills to capitalize when the throw isn't perfect.

Vertical Threat Despite Average Speed

Tate's 4.53 speed doesn’t overwhelm defenders. But he routinely generated explosive plays on vertical routes by manipulating defenders with pacing, body language, and subtle route adjustments. 

He won't win many footraces, but Tate has a knack for creating separation deep, allowing him to play faster than his timed speed suggests.

Trusted Target Along The Sideline

Ohio State frequently relied on Tate outside the numbers. He consistently works back to the football, extends to widen his catch radius, and maintains body control to stay inbounds.

Those traits should help Tate earn snaps early in the NFL, particularly in possession and intermediate-route situations.

More YAC Ability Than Expected

Tate isn't an elite open-field athlete, but he runs with vision, balance, and surprising power for a receiver. He consistently squeezes extra yards out of plays and has enough versatility to contribute on shorter routes, not just vertical concepts.

That could become especially important in the NFL, where a more diverse route tree would create opportunities for additional targets and PPR production.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

An Immediate Path To Big Targets

The Titans drafted Tate fourth overall. He could immediately become the team’s top target.

Tate’s stiffest competition figures to come from WR Wan’Dale Robinson, who inked a four-year, $70 million deal with Tennessee in free agency. 

Robinson has racked up 185 catches and 1,713 yards over the last two years and spent the past four years with Brian Daboll, now Tennessee’s OC after the Giants fired him as HC. But Robinson is 5’8, 185 pounds, has run 75% of his career routes from the slot, and averaged just 9.2 yards per catch. He doesn’t profile as a No. 1 WR.

WR Calvin Ridley returns, but he averaged just 43 yards across his seven games last year before suffering a season-ending broken fibula. Ridley will turn 32 in December and no longer projects as a lead receiver.

Can Cam Ward Take A Year 2 Leap?

The Titans are hoping to get a better Year 2 from QB Cam Ward. He struggled as a rookie, ranking 36th or worse among 42 qualifying QBs in:

• Completion rate
• Adjusted completion rate
• Yards per attempt
• TD rate
• Pro Football Focus pass grade

Ward was in a tough spot last season and still boasts plenty of arm talent and athleticism. He’s capable of taking a big leap this year.

Daboll Has Produced Four Top-17 WRs

The Titans will be operating a new offense under Daboll. He flamed out as Giants HC but had a nice run as Bills OC from 2018-2021. 

Daboll has been willing to adjust his play-calling based on his personnel. His later Bills teams leaned pass under QB Josh Allen, but the Giants shifted toward the run with much worse QB play. Expect this Titans offense to be balanced to run-leaning, depending on Ward’s development.

Daboll has consistently been heavy on 3-WR sets and has helped produce a handful of big fantasy seasons from the position.

Here’s where Daboll’s top WRs have finished in PPR points per game:

Paths to Ceiling

Draft capital and talent give Tate the potential to be the Titans’ clear-cut No. 1 WR out of the gate. If Ward takes a big Year 2 leap, Tate could score as a top-20 fantasy WR.

Risk Factors

Ward is the biggest question mark on Tate’s 2026 outlook. If he doesn’t improve significantly from an ugly rookie year, it’ll be tough for Tate to climb beyond WR3 status.

There’s also a chance Tate doesn’t control targets in Tennessee after never doing so in college.

Wan'Dale Robinson

2025 Role & Results

Only 6 WRs Had More Catches

Robinson racked up 92 catches for 1,014 yards and 4 TDs in 16 games last year. Only 6 WRs caught more passes. Robinson tied for 13th at the position in yards.

Despite the low TD total, he finished WR17 in PPR points per game and WR20 in half-PPR. He was a relatively stable fantasy option, scoring as a top-36 WR in PPR points in 10 of 16 outings. Robinson even flashed some upside with a trio of top-5 finishes.

Plenty Of Volume, Limited TD Upside

Robinson ranked 12th among all WRs in routes (523) and eighth in route rate (89.4%) last year.

He finished seventh at the position with 140 total targets and ninth with 8.8 targets per game.

Robinson ran 67.9% of his routes from the slot and worked mostly near the line of scrimmage. His 8.7-yard average target depth ranked 61st among 76 WRs with 50+ targets last year.

He was not as big a part of the Giants’ offense near the end zone. Among WRs, he ranked:

• 30th in red-zone targets (12)
• 42nd in targets inside the 10-yard line (4)
• 32nd in end-zone targets (7)

Still, the strong overall volume propelled Robinson to 13th among WRs in expected PPR points per game.

The Volume Hid Mediocre Efficiency

Robinson’s low average target depth helped produce a 65.7% catch rate. But he averaged a subpar 11.0 yards per catch.

Among 76 WRs with 50+ targets last year, Robinson ranked:

• 45th in yards per target
• 27th in yards per route

He was similarly middling in film-based metrics, finishing:

• 45th in Pro Football Focus receiving grade
• 54th in Fantasy Points separation score
• 48th in ESPN receiver score

The Nabers Injury Helped

The 2025 Giants ranked:

• 13th in total yards
• 20th in yards per play
• 17th in points

It was a run-leaning offense that finished 25th in pass rate and 26th in neutral pass rate. That left New York:

• 20th in pass attempts
• 21st in pass yards
• 24th in pass TDs

Robinson’s volume benefitted from WR Malik Nabers’ absence for most of the season. Here’s how Robinson’s usage shifted in 3 full games with Nabers vs. the other 13:

He averaged 14.4 points per game with Nabers vs. 13.4 without, but you can chalk that up to small sample size noise. Robinson exploded for an 8-142-1 line vs. the Cowboys in Week 2 but posted 6-55-0 and 1-26-0 lines in the other two games with Nabers.

Two Seasons Of Huge Volume

Robinson’s productive 2025 followed a 93-699-3 line and PPR WR46 finish in 2024.

He saw exactly 140 targets in both seasons. Robinson’s 280 targets over the last two years rank fifth among WRs. His 185 catches rank sixth.

What boosted Robinson’s production last year was a little more downfield work. His 8.7-yard average target depth and 11.0 yards per catch were both career highs (although both still well below league-wide WR averages).

Robinson’s 4 TDs last year were also a personal best. He totaled just 5 TDs over his first 3 NFL seasons.

Robinson finished WR66 in PPR points per game as a rookie in 2022 and WR58 in 2023.

The Injury Concerns Have Eased

Robinson’s 2022 rookie campaign ended with a torn right ACL on November 22. That followed an unrelated knee injury in the season opener that cost him 4 games.

Robinson missed the first 2 games of 2023 working back from that knee injury but played the final 15. He played all 17 games in 2024 before missing last year’s finale with a rib injury.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

Robinson Follows Daboll To Tennessee

Robinson hit free agency this offseason and inked a four-year, $70 million deal with the Titans. His $17.5 million average annual salary is tied for 26th among WRs with Jerry Jeudy and Michael Pittman. It’s notably just ahead of Romeo Doubs ($17.0 million), who was also a free agent this offseason.

Robinson reunites in Tennessee with Brian Daboll, who was Giants HC for all 4 of his seasons there. That familiarity should help his 2026 fantasy outlook.

Robinson will face stiff target competition, though, from fourth overall pick Carnell Tate. He’s coming off a strong junior season at Ohio State, tallying 875 yards and 9 TDs across 11 games. The 6'2, 192-pounder has the potential to quickly emerge as a legitimate No. 1 WR.

WR Calvin Ridley returns to Tennessee, but he averaged just 43 yards across his seven games last year before suffering a season-ending broken fibula. Ridley will turn 32 in December and no longer projects as a lead receiver.

Robinson is most likely to settle in as the No. 2 target in this passing game.

Can Cam Ward Take A Year 2 Leap?

The Titans are hoping to get a better year two from QB Cam Ward. He struggled as a rookie, ranking 36th or worse among 42 qualifying QBs in:

• Completion rate
• Adjusted completion rate
• Yards per attempt
• TD rate
• Pro Football Focus pass grade

Ward was in a tough spot last season and still boasts plenty of arm talent and athleticism. He’s capable of taking a big leap this year.

Robinson Should Play Plenty In Daboll's Scheme

The Titans will be operating a new offense this season under Daboll. He flamed out as Giants HC but had a nice run as Bills OC from 2018-2021. 

Daboll has been willing to adjust his play-calling based on his personnel. His later Bills teams leaned pass under QB Josh Allen, but the Giants shifted toward the run with much worse QB play. Expect this Titans offense to be balanced to run-leaning, depending on Ward’s development.

Daboll has consistently been heavy on 3-WR sets. Each of his last five offenses threw at least 72.4% of their passes with 3+ WRs on the field. That’s important for Robinson, who might not play much in 2-WR as a primary slot receiver.

Paths to Ceiling

Robinson is familiar with Daboll’s offense after spending the last four seasons with him in New York. Tate, although a strong prospect, never led his team in targets in college. And 31-year-old Ridley could be washed.

There’s potential for Robinson to draw 100+ targets in what could be an improved passing game in Ward’s second year. That’d give him a clear path to WR3 value, especially in PPR leagues.

Risk Factors

Robinson’s size and short-range profile mean he needs big volume to produce in fantasy. He might not get that this year in a WR corps that includes No. 4 overall pick Tate and proven veteran Ridley.

Ward also remains a big question mark after a disappointing rookie season.

Calvin Ridley

2025 Role & Results

Just One Useful Week Before Injury

Ridley tallied 17 catches for 303 scoreless yards across seven appearances last year. He caught just two balls on seven total snaps across his final two games.

Ridley sat 54th among WRs in PPR points per game through Week 5. He finished WR14 in Week 5 but landed outside the top-50 WRs in each of his first four outings.

Ridley Got WR3-Level Usage

Ridley averaged 6.8 targets on a 19.5% share across his five full games. Those marks would have ranked 26th and 34th, respectively, among WRs on the season.

Ridley ran relatively deep, registering a 12.9-yard average target depth that ranked 34th among 116 WRs with 25+ targets.

He ranked 39th among WRs in expected PPR points per game through Week 5.

Rate Stats Were Fine, But Film Was Worrisome

Ridley caught just 47.2% of his targets last year, 108th among 116 WRs with 25+ targets. He was charged with four drops, but the bigger issue was a 70.6% catchable-target rate that ranked 90th among those 116 WRs.

Ridley did, however, average a big 17.8 yards per catch. Among those 116 WRs, he finished:

• 27th in yards per target
• 24th in yards per route

Ridley was much less impressive in film-based metrics, ranking 67th in Pro Football Focus receiving grade and 107th in Fantasy Points separation score.

Cam Ward Did Not Help

The Titans were one of the worst offenses and passing games in the league last year, ranking:

• 30th in points
• 31st in total yards
• 30th in passing yards
• 31st in passing TDs

QB Cam Ward struggled for much of his rookie season. Across Ridley’s five full games, Ward averaged just 176 yards and 0.4 TDs per game on a 51.8% completion rate and 5.4 yards per attempt.

Age Is Starting To Matter

Ridley’s raw production disappointed last year, but his 1.89 yards per route was still the second-best mark of his career, behind only his 2.44 with the 2020 Falcons.

Ridley topped 1,000 yards in 2023 with the Jaguars and 2024 with the Titans, finishing those seasons WR28 and WR42 in PPR points per game.

Ridley turned 31 in December. Our aging curves say to expect 80-84% of peak production from a 31-year-old WR, down from 83-88% at age 30.

Last Year's Injuries Look Fluky

Ridley went down with a hamstring injury early in Week 6 last year and missed Tennessee’s next three games. He returned in Week 11 and broke his right fibula on his first snap.

Ridley was limited to individual drills in OTAs but progressed to 7-on-7 work in June minicamp. He should be ready for the start of training camp.

Ridley had missed just four NFL games with injury prior to last season.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

The Target Competition Got Much Tougher

Ridley is back with the Titans but had to restructure his contract this offseason. He took an $8.75 million pay cut in exchange for nearly all of his 2026 salary becoming guaranteed.

Ridley will face much stiffer target competition this year after Tennessee spent the fourth pick of the draft on WR Carnell Tate and signed WR Wan’Dale Robinson in free agency.

Tate is coming off a strong junior season at Ohio State, tallying 875 yards and 9 TDs across 11 games. The 6'2, 192-pounder has the potential to quickly emerge as a legitimate No. 1 WR.

Robinson racked up 185 catches and 1,713 yards over the last two years and spent the last four years under former Giants HC and current Titans OC Brian Daboll.

The Titans also return WRs Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike. Neither was very good as a rookie, but they’re capable Year 2 improvement.

Ridley is most likely to settle in as Tennessee’s No. 3 WR this year, but we’ll see how the young guys develop.

Ridley Needs More From Ward

The Titans are hoping to get a better Year 2 from QB Cam Ward. He struggled as a rookie, ranking 36th or worse among 42 qualifying QBs in:

• Completion rate
• Adjusted completion rate
• Yards per attempt
• TD rate
• Pro Football Focus pass grade

Ward was in a tough spot last season and still boasts plenty of arm talent and athleticism. He’s capable of taking a big leap this year.

Daboll Brings WR-Friendly Offense

The Titans will be operating a new offense this season under Daboll. He flamed out as Giants HC but had a nice run as Bills OC from 2018-2021. 

Daboll has been willing to adjust his play-calling based on his personnel. His later Bills teams leaned pass under QB Josh Allen, but the Giants shifted toward the run with much worse QB play. Expect this Titans offense to be balanced to run-leaning, depending on Ward’s development.

Daboll has consistently been heavy on 3-WR sets. Each of his last five offenses threw at least 72.4% of their passes with 3+ WRs on the field. That’s good news for Ridley’s playing-time projection.

The concern is that Daboll has no ties to Ridley and presumably had a hand in adding both Tate and Robinson.

Paths to Ceiling

Ridley is just a season removed from topping 1,000 yards and still produced a solid yards-per-route average last year. If he can bounce back in his age-31 season, he could contend with Tate and Robinson for Tennessee’s target lead.

If that’s paired with a better sophomore season from Ward, Ridley could be a useful WR3 in fantasy football.

Risk Factors

Ridley was a non-factor in fantasy last year, suffered a broken leg, and is now 31. He could not only finish behind Tate and Robinson in targets but also lose snaps to Ayomanor and/or Dike.

There’s a chance that Ridley isn’t even worth a roster spot in fantasy this year.

Gunnar Helm

2025 Role & Results

A Trio Of TE1 Finishes Over Second Half

Helm caught 44 balls for 357 yards and 2 TDs across 16 games last season. He finished 24th among TEs in catches but just 32nd in yards and tied for 36th in TDs.

Helm ranked 37th among TEs in PPR and half-PPR points per game. He finished as a top-12 PPR TE just three times, although all three came over his final nine games.

He Played Behind Okonkwo

Helm operated as Tennessee’s No. 2 TE behind Chig Okonkwo. His 37.5% route rate ranked 43rd among TEs. Helm’s 3.4 targets per game ranked 34th; his 10.1% target share 36th.

He worked primarily near the line of scrimmage, registering a 5.6-yard average target depth that ranked 30th among 49 TEs with 30+ targets.

The Per-Route Metrics Demand Our Attention

Helm posted promising per-route metrics last year. His 0.23 target per route ranked eighth among those 49 TEs with 30+ targets. His 1.55 yards per route was good for 24th, just ahead of Okonkwo’s 1.49.

Helm wasn’t quite as impressive in film-based metrics. Among those 49 TEs, he ranked:

• 24th in Pro Football Focus receiving grade
• 29th in ESPN receiver score
• 36th in Fantasy Points separation score

The Titans Offense Stunk

Helm played in a bad offense that ranked:

• 30th in points
• 31st in total yards
• 30th in passing yards
• 31st in passing TDs

Helm at least got to play alongside a weak WR corps that lost Calvin Ridley after just seven games. That left Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, and Van Jefferson as Tennessee’s top three.

Helm Finished Strong At Texas

The Titans selected Helm in Round 4 of the 2025 draft. 

He played behind TE Ja’Tavion Sanders at Texas as a sophomore and junior but broke out in his 2024 senior campaign. Helm led the Longhorns with 60 catches and ranked second to only WR Matthew Golden with 786 yards and 7 TDs. His 21.1% Dominator Rating ranked eighth among 21 TEs at the 2025 Combine. 

Helm was especially good after the catch in college, averaging 6.8 yards after the catch per reception for his career and 7.0 in 2024. He also posted a sterling 2.5% career drop rate.

Light Injury History

Helm missed last year’s finale with a toe injury. He didn’t suffer any notable injuries in college.

2026 Opportunity & Projection

The Likely Starter, But Not A Target Hog

Helm tops the Titans’ depth chart heading into 2026 after Okonkwo left for Washington in free agency.

The team added TE Daniel Bellinger, who has notably spent all four of his NFL seasons under former Giants HC and current Titans OC Brian Daboll. But Bellinger has totaled just 88 catches and averaged 10.6 yards per catch.

We’ll see if Bellinger siphons snaps and routes, but Helm is the favorite to lead this TE room in targets and fantasy production.

He’ll face tougher target competition from the WR corps, though. The Titans spent the fourth pick of this spring’s draft on Carnell Tate and signed Wan’Dale Robinson in free agency. Calvin Ridley, Elic Ayomanor, and Chimere Dike also return from last year’s squad.

Titans Need More From Ward

Helm and the Titans are hoping to get a better Year 2 from QB Cam Ward. He struggled as a rookie, ranking 36th or worse among 42 qualifying QBs in:

• Completion rate
• Adjusted completion rate
• Yards per attempt
• TD rate
• Pro Football Focus pass grade

Ward was in a tough spot last season and still boasts plenty of arm talent and athleticism. He’s capable of taking a big leap this year.

New Staff Looks Like Bad News For Helm

Helm will be working in a new offense this season under Daboll. He flamed out as Giants HC but had a nice run as Bills OC from 2018-2021. 

Daboll has been willing to adjust his play-calling based on his personnel. His later Bills teams leaned pass under QB Josh Allen, but the Giants shifted toward the run with much worse QB play. Expect this Titans offense to be balanced to run-leaning, depending on Ward’s development.

Daboll has consistently been heavy on 3-WR sets and has rarely featured a TE in his passing game. None of his last eight offenses ranked higher than 16th in total TE PPR points, with four of them finishing bottom eight.

Here’s where Daboll’s top TEs have finished in PPR points per game:

Paths to Ceiling

Helm has a chance to emerge as a Top-4 -- potentially even Top-3 -- target for Tennessee. If Ward improves significantly in his second season, Helm could emerge as a viable fantasy spot starter.

Risk Factors

Ward was one of the worst passers in the league last season, and TEs do not have a good track record in Daboll’s offense.

Helm could be an afterthought in this offense and in fantasy football.