Tony

Pollard

2023: Don’t let the 1,000-yard season or career-high 55 receptions fool you: Pollard’s big post-Ezekiel Elliott chance went about as poorly as possible. Recovering from a traumatic lower-body injury, Pollard later admitted he didn’t feel healthy until halfway through the season. That explains how his efficiency cratered - Pollard was abysmal in terms of both rush yards over expected and yards per route run as a pass catcher - and he squandered a truly unfathomable amount of goal-line carries. Only Christian McCaffrey had more totes inside the 20-yard line, and yet Pollard scored six touchdowns all season. That futility came in the league’s highest-scoring offense. 

What’s changed: The Cowboys made no effort to re-sign Pollard in free agency, where he landed a surprisingly lucrative deal from the Titans. He must now fight for touches with second-year pro Tyjae Spears, who was extremely impressive behind Derrick Henry as a rookie. The Titans’ coaching staff keeps praising both backs’ pass-catching and “interchangeability.” Good luck.  

Outlook: Older than you would think, Pollard has downgraded offenses. He’ll probably get luckier from a touchdown perspective, but there is little reason to believe he will win his touch war with Spears to the degree he needs to carve out consistent RB2 value.