Tennessee Titans

Tennessee Titans Outlook

Coaching

After going 9-7 each season from 2016 to 2019, the Titans pushed their record to 11-5 with an AFC South title. Mike Vrabel went 29-14 in his first three years as head coach while reaching the postseason in back-to-back seasons. All seven years of his coaching experience in the NFL came on the defense side of the ball. Vrabel played in the league for 14 seasons at linebacker. His ties to New England and three Super Bowl titles were a big part of his path to a head coaching job.

Tennessee jumped to 4th in points scored (491), and 2nd in yards gained. They scored 89 more points than in 2019. The Titans finished with the best offense since the early 90s, with Warren Moon leading the show.

Todd Downing takes over as the offensive coordinator after working as Tennessee's tight end coach in 2019 and 2020. He's been a coach in the NFL since 2005. He led the Raiders' offense for one season in 2017.

The Titans promoted Shane Bowen to run the defense, which came a year after not having a defensive coordinator. Over the last three seasons, he worked as a linebacker coach for Tennessee. Bowen has five seasons of coaching experience in the pros at the age of 34.

The defensive side of the ball declined for the second straight season. The Titans allowed the ninth-highest number of points (439 – 108 more than 2019) while finishing 28th in yards allowed.

Free Agency

Tennessee lost two key players (WR Corey Davis and TE Jonnu Smith) off their offense and two starters (CB Desmond King and DE Jadeveon Clowney).

Davis showed more explosiveness and consistency last year after struggling to fulfill his expected value after getting drafted in the first round in 2017. He set career highs in receiving yards (984) and touchdowns (5) while matching his 2018 season in catches (65). Davis posted four impact games (7/101, 8/128/1, 11/182/1, and 4/110/1). He missed two games with a Covid issue.

Smith has improved his stats each year in the NFL. He set career bests in catches (41), yards (448), and touchdowns (8) despite receiving only 65 targets. His season started with 18 catches for 221 and five touchdowns over four games, but Smith failed to score over 12.00 fantasy points over his last 12 games (including the playoffs). He gained over 35 yards in one contest over this span.

King added value to the run defense with some success blitzing the quarterback. When at his best over his first three seasons with the Chargers, King made 189 tackles with 6.5 sacks, 17 defended passes, and four interceptions.

Clowney continues to underachieve in the pass rush (32 sacks in 83 career games) while making his fourth franchise change since 2018. Over the last two seasons, he missed 13 starts. His game does play well in run support.

The Titans added DE Bud Dupree and WR Josh Reynolds in the offseason.

Dupree missed five games last season due to a torn ACL in his left knee. He delivered 19.5 sacks over his previous 27 games while being a liability in most seasons in run support. He continues to miss too many tackles.

Reynolds worked as the 3rd/4th wide receiver for the Rams over the last four seasons. His catch rate (50.8) over his first three seasons. Last year, Los Angeles gave him more chances close to the line of scrimmage, leading to a bump in his overall production (52/618/2).

The only other player of value lost was DT DaQuan Jones, who signed with the Panthers. His play worked well against the run over the past two seasons while offering minimal sacks (eight over his last 92 games).

Draft

Three of their first four selections by Tennessee in the 2021 NFL Draft came on the defensive side of the ball (CB Caleb Farley, LB Monty Rice, and CB Elijah Molden).

Farley brings a press coverage skill set to the Titans with the speed to cover his receivers over the long field. He is a former quarterback with limited experience playing at cornerback. His success at college came from his physical talents, but Farley can't push higher without improving his technique and his feel for play development in tight quarters. With first-round pedigree, he has a boom or bust feel.

Rice has a do you job mentality with excellent timing and feel for his responsibilities against the run. His vision is a significant plus, which offset his lack of impact speed. Rice should be a productive player at the next level on early downs.

Molden has the foundation skill set to be a top cornerback, but his only missing trait is his overall speed. He plays with vision and excellent cover skills, and the ability to support the run. Molden should excel over the short areas of the field and in the red zone. His lack of size (5'9" and 192 lbs.) is a concern, and top wide receivers with speed will test him in deep coverage.

T Dillon Radunz came to Tennessee via a second-round pick. His game should fire in a quick-hitting run game where his first step and power play well. His range looks limited, putting him at risk when facing pass rushers outside his frame. Radunz projects better at guard than at tackle.

The Titans invested in a pair of wide receivers in the fourth and sixth rounds – Dez Fitzpatrick and Racey McMath.

Fitzpatrick gives Tennessee a wideout who will test a defense deep with jump ball ability in the end zone, but his release and hands limit his explosiveness. His lack of quickness and route-running point to minimal value over the short areas of the field. Fitzpatrick won't create in the open field and make good reads on option routes.

McMath needs to clean up his release and route running to take advantage of his plus speed. His hands and ability to catch in tight quarters look to be assets. He'll struggle with press coverage while owning a limited flight plan. McMath does project well on special teams.

DE Rashad Weaver and S Brady Breeze were the Titans' other two additions in the fourth and sixth rounds.

Weaver packs a winning punch, which is the only club in his bag that disrupts after the snap. He won't win with speed or quickness, and his willingness to fire can lead to mistakes against the run. His game projects better on early downs where his power will disrupt and create sneaky value in sacks.

Breeze plays well when attacking the line of scrimmage against the run, but he will short circuit if meeting big bodies. His cover skill doesn't project well, and speed will be a problem at the next level. Breeze plays with vision and an excellent feel for play development. In his rookie season, he may have to earn his keep in the coverage game.

Offensive Line

The Titans moved up a notch to second in the NFL in rushing yards (2,690) with 26 touchdowns and 20 runs over 20 yards. Their ball carriers gained 5.2 yards per rush.

Tennessee slipped to 23rd in passing yards (3,826) with 33 passing touchdowns and seven interceptions. Their quarterbacks gained only 7.9 yards per pass attempt with only 44 completions over 20 yards. The Titans' offensive line allowed 25 sacks.

LT Taylor Lewan

Lewan has been a top player at his position over his six seasons in the league. Last year he missed 11 games with a right shoulder issue and a torn ACL in his right knee. His best value comes in pass protection while showing strength in run blocking in most of his years in the league. Lewan is a former first-round draft pick (2014).

LG Rodger Saffold

Saffold signed a four-year $44 million contract with the Titans in 2019. His game was elite from 2012 to 2014 as a pass protector while developing into an excellent balanced player over his next four seasons. Since arriving in Tennessee, Safford showed more risk in pass protection while having a high floor in run blocking.

C Ben Jones

Jones now has seven straight years on his resume, where he's been a league-average player or better in all areas. Jones hasn't missed a game over his past seven seasons after being drafted in the fourth round in 2012. In 2020, Jones allowed minimal pressure and no sacks.

RG Nate Davis

The Titans added Davis in the third round in 2019. He finished as a liability in his rookie season in all areas. His run blocking improved last year, where it can now be considered better than the league average. Davis still allows too much pressure on the quarterback.

RT Dillon Radunz

Tennessee may ease Radunz into action in his rookie season. They wasted a first-round selection on T Isaiah Wilson in 2020, forcing the Titans to place another early draft bet on the offensive line this year. Radunz has experience at tackle with more value in run blocking early in his career. I expect him to be a liability if he does indeed start.

The left side of the Titans' offensive line ranks near the top of the league, with a player of value at the center position. Defenses will attack the quarterback on the right side until Davis and Radunz show growth in pass protection. Overall, the Titans should run the ball well again while seeing an increase in sacks allowed.

Offense

Tennessee ran the ball 51.9 percent of the time in 2020 while offering explosiveness in scoring in the passing game. Ideally, the Titans want to play well defensively while running the ball when playing from the lead.

QB Ryan Tannehill - Quality Backup

Over his 28 starts for the Titans, Tannehill has 18 wins and 10 losses with two trips to the postseason. Last year he set a career-high in passing touchdowns (33) while offering his best production on the ground (43/266/7). Tannehill finished eighth in quarterback scoring (390.55 fantasy points) in four-point passing touchdown leagues. He averaged 255 combined yards per game despite Tennessee attempting the third-lowest number of passing attempts (481).

Tannehill scored over 29.00 fantasy points in six matchups (29.15, 31.95, 34.30, 32.45, 39.75, and 30.60), with five of these games coming at home. Twenty-five of his 40 scores came at home. He passed for over 300 yards three times.

Fantasy Outlook: His receiving core took a hit in the offseason by losing WR Corey Davis and TE Jonnu Smith, and the Titans continue to lack depth and strength at both wide receiver and tight end. A.J. Brown has a high ceiling, but Tannehill will struggle to find open receivers in many games. In the early draft season, he ranks as the 14th quarterback drafted, which is too high based on the structure of the Titans' offense. I expect a drop of 12 to 15 touchdowns with dull production in passing yards. At best, Tannehill is a bye-week cover with backend QB2 value.

Other Option: Logan Woodside, DeShone Kizer

RB Derrick Henry - Stud (low risk)

The Titans barely used their running backs in the passing game (36/219/2 on 56 targets). On the running side, Tennessee led the NFL in running back rushing yards (2,414) thanks to a league-high in rushing attempts (472). They scored 17 touchdowns on the ground for the second straight year.

Derrick Henry

In each year in the NFL, Henry improved on his output in rushing yards, along with his rushing attempts. In 2020, he had the fifth-most rushing yards (2,027) in NFL history for a single season on a league-high 378 attempts. Henry had 16 runs over 20 yards, and four of those carries reach the 40-yard mark. He 47 touches over his past 47 games.

His best two games (22/264/2 with two catches and 34/250/2) came against the Texans. Henry had gained over 100 yards in seven other matchups while delivering over 200 yards in one other game (26/215/2 and two catches). He averaged a career-high 5.4 yards per rush.

Fantasy Outlook: Of the seven other running backs to rush for over 2,000 yards, Barry Sanders had the smallest regression in rushing yards (562 – 2,053 in 1997 and 1,491 in 1998) the following season. Henry is horseback, with a short opportunity in the passing game. The lack of talent at wide receiver should lead to fewer big plays. He has the makings of a first-round bust based on the direction of this offense.

RB Darrynton Evans - Fantasy Handcuff

In 2018 in college, he worked more a change of pace back (179/1187/7), which led to 6.6 yards per rush and minimal chances in the passing game (12/87/1). In 2019, Evans developed into a lead runner with value on three downs (1,678 combined yards with 23 touchdowns and 21 catches on 276 touches). His best game came in Week 2 against Charlotte (19/234/3).

Evans attacks quickly after the snap with the idea of making big plays. His movements in space will threaten every level of the defense. He'll break tackles with the moves and quickness to beat defenders to the hole. Evans needs to improve as an inside runner. I expect him to hold his own in pass protection while having the upside feel in the passing game.

A hamstring injury cost Evans 11 games in his rookie season. He finished with only 81 combined yards with a touchdown and two catches on 16 touches.

Fantasy Outlook: Evans brings plus speed and change of pace value. The Titans will get him on the field, but he projects more as an upside handcuff with a minimal opportunity out of the gate.

Other Options: Jeremy McNichols, Brian Hill, Mekhi Sargent

WR Racey McMath - Not Draft Worthy

McMath had a minimal opportunity over the past two seasons at LSU. He caught 31 of 47 targets for 480 yards and four touchdowns. His game needs plenty of work, pointing to a bench role early in his career.

Other Options: Cameron Batson, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Chester Rogers

WR Dez Fitzpatrick - Dynasty Only

Over four seasons at Louisville, Fitzpatrick caught 154 passes for 2,589 yards and 21 touchdowns. He gained 16.8 yards per catch while posting weakness in his catch rate (57.2). His best year came in his freshman year (45/699/9), pointing to regression in his growth.

WR A.J. Brown - Solid/Safe Pick

The wide receiver opportunity for the Titans increased over the past two seasons. Their wideouts accounted for 69 percent of Tennessee's passing yards, with about 59 percent of the team's completions.

A.J. Brown

Over his first two seasons, Brown gained over 1,000 yards each year (52/1,051 and 70/1,075) while scoring 19 touchdowns in 30 games. In the offseason, he had surgery on both knees. Even with an explosive feel and an improving catch rate (66), Brown doesn't have the opportunity to match the elite wide receivers in the game.

He gained over 100 yards in four contests (6/153/1, 4/101/1, 7/112/1, and 10/151/1) when he picked up nine of his 13 catches over 20 yards. Brown had over five catches in five of his 14 starts.

In his career, he gained 17.4 yards per catch, with 13 of his 122 catches gaining 40 yards or more.

Fantasy Outlook: Brown finished 12th in wide receiver scoring (248.50 fantasy points) in PPR leagues despite missing two games, which was nine spots higher than 2019 (217.30 fantasy points). With a dropdown at WR2 in Tennessee, his freedoms in the secondary could be less, but Brown should see more targets by default. His early ADP (22) as the fifth wideout draft points an impact player. His next step should be 90 catches for 1,300 yards and a floor of 12 touchdowns.

WR Julio Jones - Solid/Safe Pick

Early in the offseaon, Tennessee emerged as the favorites to trade for Jones, and a big reason they did was due to A.J. Brown pleading with Jones to come to the Tenneessee to give the Titans a formidable skill position group.

Jones has been one of the elite wideouts in football since being selected in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft. Jones finished as a top-14 fantasy wideout in each of his 10 seasons with the Falcons in terms of PPR points scored per game. But now 32, Jones is on the downside of his prime and will have a hard time accumulating enough volume to maintain WR1 status on the run-first Titans.

Fantasy Outlook: Jones should still be a dependable source of targets and catches and there is a good chance he can eclipse double-digit touchdowns, as QB Ryan Tannehill exceled in the red zone, with a 28-0 TD-to-INT ratio last season. View Jones as a solid WR2 who should still command attention in the third or fourth round of most fantasy drafts.

WR Josh Reynolds - Deep-league Only

In his fourth season, Reynolds set career-highs in catches (52), receiving yards (618), and targets (81). He gained over 20 yards on 22 of his 102 catches over the past three years. His catch rate (64.1) pushed higher, Reynolds saw a decline in his yards per catch (11.9 – 15.5 in 2019 and 13.9 in 2018).

This season, Reynolds replaced Corey Davis (65/984/5) in Tennessee's starting lineup. The third wideout for the Titans in 2020 only had 23 catches for 228 yards and two touchdowns.

TE Anthony Firkser - Sleeper (undervalued)

The tight end position was an important part of the Titans' passing game last year, especially at the goal line. They finished with 94 catches for 967 yards and 12 touchdowns on 137 targets. Tennessee gained about 25 percent of their passing yards over the past three seasons from the tight ends while receiving close to 30 percent of their completions.

Anthony Firkser

As the second tight end for the Titans in 2020, Firkser caught 39 passes for 387 yards and one touchdown on 53 targets. He gained 9.9 yards per catch with strength in his catch rate (73.6). His only game of value came in Week 6 (8/113/1) against the Texans.

Fantasy Outlook: Tennessee will rotate in multiple tight ends this season, which makes Firkser tough to time in the fantasy market. The Titans have no choice but use their tight ends in the passing game with weakness at the WR3 position and minimal usage in the passing game out of the backfield. His next step should be 50 catches for 500 yards with short value in touchdowns.

Other Options: Geoff Swain, Jared Pinkney, Tommy Hudson, Briley Moore

PK Tucker McCann - Bye Week Fill-in

The kicking job is wide open heading into the 2021 season for the Titans. Last year, the Titans' scored 62 touchdowns while creating 28 field-goal tries.

McCann made only 72.6 percent of his field goal kicks over four seasons at Missouri. He also missed 12 of his 187 extra-point tries. I can't see him emerging as the Titans' kicker

Tennessee - Bye Week Fill-in

The Titans fell to 19th in rushing yards allowed (1,933) in 2020 while allowing 18 touchdowns and 12 runs over 20 yards. Ball carriers gained 4.5 yards per rush while averaging 26.6 rushing attempts per game.

Tennessee dropped to 29th in passing yards allowed (4,439), with quarterbacks tossing 36 touchdowns and 15 interceptions. Their defense created only 19 sacks.

DT Jeffery Simmons

Before the 2019 NFL Draft, Simmons suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. The Titans still thought enough of him to draft him 19th overall.

He offers a disruptive skill set that will improve the run defense and add pressure to the pass rush. His next step in his development is understanding what teams are trying to do against him and staying home in his assignments. Simmons will be an impact player when at full strength.

Last year he made 49 tackles with three sacks and five defended passes. Simmons played at a high level against the run.

DE Larrell Murchison

The Titans invested in DT Larrell Murchison in the fifth round in 2020. Sometimes smarts, feel, and hard work outweigh some explosive traits. Murchison has an excellent feel for the game, allowing him to find the right amount of space to make plays. His range is limited while owning enough power to hold his ground vs. the run.

Last year he saw minimal playing time due to a back issue.

DE Denico Autry

Over the last three seasons, Autry posted 102 combined targets with 20 sacks. His run defense continues to fade with a high number of missed tackles.

LB Bud Dupree

Dupree missed five games last year with a knee injury. He has 19.5 sacks over the past 27 games with 99 combined tackles. His run defense is league average at best.

LB Jayon Brown

Brown set a career-high in tackles (105) in 2019 with some growth in pass coverage (one Int, eight defended passes, and one TD). Last season, he missed six games with a broken elbow, leading 76 tackles and one sack. His run defense remains a weakness in his game.

LB Rashaan Evans

Evans should be a great linebacker vs. the run where his speed, vision, and instincts will offer an edge. He'll add value to the pass rush while needing to prove his worth in pass coverage. His challenge at the next level will be overcoming weaker talent on the defensive line than his years at Alabama.

Over the last two seasons, Evans had 207 combined tackles with three sacks and five defended passes. His run defense came in below expectation in 2020.

LB Harold Landry

Landry has a chance to be an impact pass rusher thanks to his speed and quickness. He has strength, but he doesn't have the size (6'2" and 255 lbs.) to beat NFL linemen consistently on the defensive line. Harold needs to improve when asked to change direction.

In his third year in the NFL, Landry picked up 5.5 sacks with a slight bump in tackles (69). His run defense slipped below the league average.

CB Janoris Jenkins

Jenkins moved into the starting lineup after signing in the offseason. Over the last two seasons with the Giants and Saints, he made 109 combined tackles with seven interceptions and 26 defended passes.

CB Kristian Fulton

In the second in 2020, Tennessee selected CB Kristian Fulton. The first read on him is that Fulton will gain value once the field shortens. He can play physical at the line of scrimmage while lacking the chase speed to make up for mistakes early in coverage. Fulton will gamble at times, but his instincts give him a thinker feel at this point in his career.

Fulton will push for starting snaps in 2021.

S Kevin Byard

Byard has been a top player at safety over the last four seasons. He continues to be an impact player in run support (111 tackles) while making plenty of plays in coverage (20 interceptions and 40 defended passes over the last four years).

S Amari Hooker

Hooker played well in his second year in the league. He finished with 51 tackles, four interceptions, and eight defended passes. Last year, Hooker made only three starts while showing riks against the run.

The Titans' defense has significant issues on the defensive line. Tennessee has to rebuild the cornerback position while having a question at strong safety. The linebacking core will set the tone on the defensive side of the ball. The Titans' defense will have more downs than ups in 2021, and I don't see any starting fantasy value.