Kenneth Walker vs Tyjae Spears: Who Should You Start?
Kenneth Walker and Tyjae Spears are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Kenneth Walker averaged 10.4 PPG across 17 games with the Kansas City Chiefs, while Tyjae Spears posted 6.9 PPG in 13 appearances for the Tennessee Titans.
A 3.5-PPG gap gives Kenneth Walker the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.
Tyjae Spears is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 45 targets into 264 yards, while Kenneth Walker profiles as a more traditional rusher with 1027 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Tyjae Spears carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.
Kenneth Walker has his bye in Week 6, and Tyjae Spears rests in Week 5. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.
