After a long tumultuous season, fantasy football managers are now one week away from the fantasy playoffs. This week is the last week of the regular season for most fantasy leagues, so the stakes are higher than ever.
The running back position has had an eventful season with massive injuries to star running backs. More teams are using committee backfields to share the workload and keep players fresh. So who should you start between Miles Sanders and Tyjae Spears?
Should You Start Tyjae Spears in Fantasy This Week?
Spears has had a relatively quiet season, but last week he hit an all-time high. Against the Indianapolis Colts, Derrick Henry left the game due to injury thrusting Spears as the primary back. Spears finished the game with his highest snap share and carries.
Keep an eye on the health of Henry. If he is out, then Spears is a locked-in fantasy starter. His workload as the primary back is enough to keep him in your lineups.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
Spears has the potential to be the primary starting back if Henry is unavailable. If Henry is available, Spears still provides value as a pass-catching running back on a team short on pass-catchers.
Spears has the third most targets on the Titans’ offense, and with a matchup against the Miami Dolphins, there is the potential for plenty of garbage time for the Titans’ offense. Spears could find himself as the recipient of plenty of passes in the second half if they are trailing by double digits.
Should You Start Miles Sanders in Fantasy This Week?
This has been a season for the Carolina Panthers to forget. It has been a long year, and with a new coaching staff, we have clarity on the backfield. In the first game without Frank Reich, the team leaned on Chuba Hubbard as the primary rusher.
Over the last four games, Sanders has surpassed 50 or more yards only once. He’s finished as a top-30 fantasy running back once since Week 4. His lack of productivity compared to the new coaching staff’s reliance on Hubbard is a warning for fantasy managers.
The Panthers face off against a divisional opponent, the New Orleans Saints, this Sunday. New Orleans’ defense has taken a step back this season, but the Panthers offense has been severely crippled by poor offensive play.
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say that Spears is the player to start. His projected 8.0 points include a projection of 34 rushing yards, one reception, and 16 yards.
That doesn’t seem like a big stat line, but it outperforms the consensus projection for Sanders (6.7 points).
My ranking for these two running backs aligns with the consensus because of the history of production this season. In five of the last six games, Sanders has a snap share of less than 40%.
Sanders is firmly the No. 2 option behind Hubbard, and with no hope for pass-catching opportunities, he should be far away from your starting rosters this weekend.
Spears is also the No. 2 option; however, he provides a spark to his offense as a pass-catcher. If you need a deep play at running back on your roster, he can be a fine play as a running back with Henry coming off an injury last week.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!