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In every league, on every waiver wire, there's a player that continues to slip through the cracks. He's never the highest priority add nor a desperation start option on Sunday morning.
Tyjae Spears may be that guy. He's rostered in many leagues but there's a chance the rookie is still on your waiver wire. For several weeks, our Rotoballer staff has suggested adding Spears to your roster, but other backs like Jerome Ford or De'Von Achane took precedence.
With a lack of bonafide additions at the running back position out there, is this the week where Spears finds a home on your roster?
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What Did Tyjae Spears Accomplish In Week 4?
The rookie out of Tulane rushed five times for 40 yards and caught three of his four targets for 18 yards. Spears' 8.8 PPR fantasy points, while not overly impressive, is his highest total of his debut campaign.
What excites fantasy managers about Spears is his usage. For nearly his entire career, Derrick Henry has been a one-man show in the Titans' backfield. As the former All-Pro nears his 30th birthday, coach Mike Vrabel is being smarter with his usage. Spears has been on the field for 113 snaps, which is only 15 fewer than Henry.
Spears played 53% of the snaps in Week 4 with the Titans holding a comfortable lead. Henry played 59% of the snaps to help milk the clock. This was the first game in which the duo both saw the field for over half of the plays. Generally, playtime has been determined by the game script. If Tennessee falls behind, Spears gets a bulk of the work. If they're within a score or playing with a lead, it's Henry's time.
| Week | Result | Henry Snap Percentage | Spears Snap Percentage |
| 1 | L, 15-16 | 48% | 54% |
| 2 | W, 27-24 | 71% | 37% |
| 3 | L, 3-27 | 38% | 56% |
| 4 | W, 27-3 | 59% | 53% |
Is Tyjae Spears A Good Fantasy Football Pickup for Week 5?
Spears is one of the running back lottery tickets but he adds a little insurance on the side. He's already receiving a healthy amount of snaps while sharing the backfield and can be started when you're in a pinch. If anything were to happen to Henry that causes him to miss games, Spears would be a potential league-winning running back. At worst, he'd be a dependable RB2.
Spears should be rostered in every standard-sized league. Even in leagues with eight or 10 managers or leagues with shallow benches, Spears is a rosterable piece. Managers will want the lottery ticket if it ever cashes out.
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