Tony Pollard Week 1 Outlook - Titans at Bears

By Derek Brown (FantasyPros), Wed, Sep 4th 2024, 8:38pm EDT

I know what you're thinking..." Hey, this guy told me Pollard was his RB1 overall last year." Yep, I did. I'll own the L here. Tony Pollard was a massive disappointment. I didn't think it was possible for his tackle-breaking ability to go from stellar to putrid, but it happened. The reality is that he had the role that we coveted, though, and he should be considered the lead back for Tennessee entering this season. Last season, he was a volume-eating machine, ranking seventh in carries and 11th in targets among backs. The bright side is that in 2024, he could rebound and look much closer to the player we thought we were getting last year. Last season in Weeks 11-18, among 44 qualifying backs, Pollard ranked 15th in yards after contact per attempt, 21st in explosive run rate, and had the 11th-lowest stuff rate. Unfortunately, if the Bears continue to field a similarly dominant run defense this year as they did in 2023, Pollard could start slow in Week 1. Last year, Chicago had the fifth-highest stuff rate while holding backs to the 11th-lowest yards after contact per attempt and third-lowest explosive run rate.