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    Titans beat expects a running back committee?

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    TEN Running Back #20
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    Sports Illustrated’s Nick Arvin anticipates the Titans using “a more balanced committee approach” in the backfield this season.

    Arvin writes that Tony Pollard is expected to remain the lead back, but he thinks a committee approach could be in order, with the additions of fifth-round pick Nicholas Singleton and the continued presence of Tyjae Spears. On June 11, Titans coach Robert Saleh referred to Pollard and Spears as “the bellcows of this football team,” and said Singleton will have to “compete his way” into the rotation. The Titans have had just three practices since Saleh’s remarks. Pollard remains the top back in Tennessee. Spears is penciled in on passing downs and might get the chance to play a small role on early downs as well. Singleton’s role is murky. It would be reasonable for the Titans to limit a fifth-round rookie to special teams only.
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  • TEN Running Back #2
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    This is something of an annual drum beat from Titans camp. Spears suffered an ankle injury early last season that limited his reps. We’re sure if he can stay healthy, his overall share of the backfield snaps and touches will increase. But it’s hard to understand how he’d suddenly become the lead back in Tennessee without an injury to Tony Pollard.
  • TEN Running Back #20
    Both Pollard and Spears are entering contract years. Pollard, 29, has missed just one game over the past two seasons, while Spears, 24, has missed nine. Spears also entered the NFL with concerns regarding one of his knees, which has full thickness cartilage loss and is missing its ACL. Pollard has been far more productive than Spears, who acknowledges he needs to prove his consistency to the coaching staff, but Pollard’s age is working against him. Both players appear locked into the top-two spots on the depth chart, but Glennon thinks it’s “not a huge stretch to see” RB Nicholas Singleton becoming the team’s primary ball-carrier in 2027. Of course, we are a long way from having an answer to this. The Titans’ backfield developments in training camp are worth following, though.
  • TEN Running Back
    Singleton broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot at the Senior Bowl, so the team has had to slowly add more to the rookie running back’s workload over the last few weeks. He reportedly worked more on Tuesday than he has at any point this offseason. That said, Titans coach Robert Saleh spoke with the media on Thursday and referred to RBs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears as “the bellcows.” He adds that Singleton is big, fast and “learning it all,” but he must “compete his way” into the running back group.
  • TEN Running Back #2
    Listing Pollard as a bellcow comes as no surprise. Saleh has spoken positively of him already. Including Spears in the “bellcow” column is notable, but we still expect him to be second on the depth chart. Pollard out-touched Spears 275 to 117 last season. Perhaps Spears can tack on a few more touches this year.
  • TEN Running Back
    Singleton has decent odds of making the roster as the Titans’ RB3 and special teams returner. Where he goes from there remains to be seen. He flashed high-end, dual-threat traits in college, but ceded snaps to the reliable rusher, RB Kaytron Allen. Singleton’s boom-bust style has its strengths and weaknesses.
  • TEN Running Back
    The top running back recruit of the 2022 class, Singleton (6’/219) burst onto the scene as a true freshman with 1,061 yards at a staggering 6.8 yards per carry. He split work with fellow newcomer Kayton Allen and that would never change during his four years at Penn State. Though his role on the ground never improved much, Singleton exploded as a receiver in his sophomore and junior seasons. He caught 26 passes for 308 yards and two scores in 2023 and jumped to 41 grabs for 375 yards with five touchdowns in 2024. Penn State’s entire football program fell apart in Singleton’s final season and he was held to just 549 yards on the ground and 219 through the air. Singleton has the top gear you would expect from someone with over 1,100 career kick return yards, but he goes down on first contact rather easily. He’s a straight-line runner whose calling card in the NFL will be his speed and pass-catching prowess. At his size, that’s an interesting skill set to have.
  • CLG Running Back
    Singleton broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot at the Senior Bowl, which required surgery and prevented him from participating in pre-draft workouts. Per Schefter, Singleton “projects to be a mid-round pick next week.” Hopefully for Singleton’s sake and fantasy purposes, that means Round 3 rather than Rounds 4 or 5. He is an explosive dual-threat player with good size, though analysts typically knock his vision.
  • TEN Running Back #20
    “Shoot, Pollard dropped over 100 on us (last season) so I think he’s pretty good ... Spears has tremendous versatility as a three-down back and they both play with a physical mindset. … I’m a believer in our backfield and I think it’s a group that can help our team,” Saleh continued before saying it was one of the better running back rooms in football. We’ve seen plenty of Jeremiyah Love hype for the Titans this offseason, and perhaps this is just a smoke screen, but Saleh appears to be throwing some cold water on the idea. If Pollard can get out of the draft without another high-end back addition, he’ll be a fine Zero-RB stab again in 2026.
  • DEN Running Back #12
    Per Klis, Arkansas RB Mike Washington Jr., Washington RB Jonah Coleman, Kentucky RB Seth McGowan, Nebraska RB Emmett Johnson, Penn State RB Nicholas Singleton and Texas A&M RB Le’Veon Moss are among the “possibilities” at running back. Klis is not declaring that a running back will be the pick. Reports on the Broncos’ backfield simply remain somewhat in flux. The team re-signed veteran RB J.K. Dobbins to a two-year, $20 million contract this offseason and it remains to be seen whether last year’s 60th overall pick, RB RJ Harvey, is a real candidate to be the team’s long-term starter. For now, Dobbins appears to be slated for Week 1 starting duties, but Harvey or a rookie could challenge him for the role.
  • CLG Running Back
    The Titans, who have the fourth pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, could be in the running for Love, who impressed at last week’s Scouting Combine. “Anytime you can get a running back like that, especially a three-down running back, that can play in the pass game as well and be able to take over a game, you’ve seen guys in the league now that can do that,” Borgonzi said when being asked about taking a running back in the top five. Titans head coach stressed the importance of a good run game in taking pressure off of second-year QB Cam Ward following Ward’s massive rookie year struggles. The Titans could save around $7 million in cap space if they release Tony Pollard, 29, with a post-June 1 designation. If he lands in Tennessee, Love would likely be the centerpiece of Brian Daboll’s offense, relegating Tyjae Spears to breather back status.

Rotoworld

  • SEA Running Back #8
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    Jadarian Price handled the opening first-team rep in the Seahawks’ first full-team scrimmage on Thursday.

    It’s one rep in one practice, but it is certainly notable after the Seahawks had previously reserved those honors for holdover George Holani during the offseason program. Beat writer Gregg Bell also reports Price “continued his daily regimen of catching pass,” adding “it’s constant.” Sam Darnold expects an increase in running back targets to be a feature of new OC Brian Fleury’s offense. “Yeah, I think it helps the quarterback a ton because it does present a different problem for the defense,” Darnold said. So far, everything is breaking Price’s way as he looks to solidify RB2 status in fantasy, though there are many more padded practices and preseason appearances to go.
  • SF Wide Receiver #1
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    49ers signed WR Deebo Samuel to a one-year contract.

    The deal is worth “up to” $7 million, presumably with the “up to” doing some heavy lifting. Trying to wait out underwhelming free agent offers until the right opportunity presented itself, 30-year-old Samuel has found the perfect opportunity in reuniting with coach Kyle Shanahan and company. Although his efficiency had been declining even before last season’s trade to the Commanders, we have little doubt it will rebound to a degree under Shanny. The question becomes where he fits in a receiver jigsaw that includes an injured Ricky Pearsall and Christian Kirk, aging Mike Evans, and unproven De’Zhaun Stribling. Samuel isn’t going to be the usage monster of his prime, but then again, the 49ers also lack proven backfield touches behind Christian McCaffrey. Perhaps even “rushing Samuel” will be in for something of a revival. Although summer fantasy drafters might have been hoping for Samuel to end up in a skill corps with less touch competition, this is ultimately a good outcome for those hoping for top-40 upside.
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    Vikings LT Christian Darrisaw (knee) said he feels “the best” he has felt in two years.

    Darrisaw suffered a multi-ligament tear in his left knee in October 2024 and struggled in his return last year. He told reporters today that he thinks he “turned the corner this offseason.” The Vikings plan to give him regular rest days during training camp and the regular season, but he believes he is on track to be a full-time player once again.
  • ARI Running Back #4
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    ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss reports that Cardinals RB Jeremiyah Love is operating as the RB2 in first-team drills.

    Per Weinfuss, through eight days of training camp, veteran RB Tyler Allgeier “has been getting the majority of the carries with the first team, with Love getting the rest.” This should, helpfully, keep Love’s ADP somewhat suppressed. It is a worthwhile buying opportunity. The No. 3 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft should be expected to take over as the starter in-season at the latest. Allgeier will be worth stashing on benches. The team does trust him.
  • ARI Running Back #22
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    ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss reports that Cardinals RB Tyler Allgeier “has been getting the majority of the carries with the first team.”

    The Cardinals began training camp very early, with both rookies and veterans reporting on July 22nd. Rookie RB Jeremiyah Love is the only other Cardinals back to take first-team reps. Should we now view Allgeier as the season-long lead back? No. Allgeier may end up having standalone value early in the year, but the team drafted Love to be their star. It would even be unsurprising to see Allgeier split first-team snaps 50-50 with Love before the season starts.
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    Steelers hosted free agent S Jordan Whitehead for visit on Thursday.

    A January 2025 car crash sidelined Whitehead for the entire season. He was cleared for football activity just over a week ago.
  • MIN Quarterback #1
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    The Athletic’s Alec Lewis reports that QB Kyler Murray “took a hefty amount of snaps with the starters” on Thursday.

    Per Lewis, Murray connected on a notable deep pass at one point, and ESPN’s Kevin Seifert also noted that Murray is pushing the ball downfield. Fellow Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy “spent more time with the No. 2 group” and attempted fewer downfield passes. If this is an indicator that Murray is pulling away, that’s a good thing. The sooner one quarterback begins taking all first-team reps the better.
  • CIN Tight End #83
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    Bengals QB Joe Burrow said TE Erick All (knee) “looks fit, fast, explosive” and will “play a big role for us this year.”

    Late in June, the Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. identified All as a key cog in the Bengals’ intended schematic switches this season. The team hopes to run more plays from under center while also increasing its play-action rate. It remains to be seen how much receiving involvement All will garner, but the team is very clearly excited about his blocking ability, both in-line and as a fullback. A pair of knee surgeries limited All’s availability through his two NFL seasons. If he can truly return to form, who’s to say he can’t be the Bengals’ long-term TE1? All recently told Dehner that getting hit by a three-wheeled truck in Greece this summer restored his confidence in his ability to take a hit. A modern-day odyssey.
  • BUF Wide Receiver #11
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    Bills signed WR Dante Pettis, formerly of the Saints.

    Pettis, 30, caught 9-of-11 targets for 127 yards with the Saints last season. The Bills correspondingly released WR Jalen Virgil with a non-football injury designation.
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    ESPN’s Rich Cimini reports that Jets coach Aaron Glenn confirmed his team’s “interest” in free agent CB Terrion Arnold.

    Arnold is facing felony kidnapping and armed robbery charges. It was previously reported that three NFL teams had expressed interest in him after the Lions cut him. The Jets are apparently one of them. The Texans had been identified as another. Glenn characterized his team’s inquiry as doing its “due diligence.” He previously coached Arnold during his time as the Lions’ defensive coordinator. A deal does not appear imminent.