Analyze Hassan Haskins's matchup for week 9
Haskins has logged only 12 offensive snaps over the last three weeks and is stuck behind a healthy Tony Pollard in a Titans backfield that leans pass-heavy when trailing. Against a Chargers defense that’s top-10 in RB target rate allowed and just got run on by the Saints, Haskins’ path to fantasy relevance requires a positive script that rarely materializes for Tennessee. He’s a sit in all redraft formats unless you’re in a 16-team league and absolutely desperate.
Los Angeles enters Week 9 surrendering the 8th-fewest PPR points to running backs (17.9/game) and has yet to allow a rushing TD to a backup this season. Tennessee’s offensive line is banged-up (right guard and center both on the injury report), and when the Titans fall behind they pivot to 11-personnel, leaving Haskins on the sideline. The Chargers’ linebackers have struggled in coverage, but Haskins’ 6% target share isn’t enough to exploit that weakness. Game script projects negative for Tennessee—the spread sits at LAC –7—so the Titans’ pass-centric fallback plan caps Haskins’ ceiling at a handful of carries and maybe one check-down.
Since Week 6 Haskins has touched the ball 7 times for 28 yards and played fewer than 10 snaps in back-to-back games. He did flash a 14-yard catch-and-run vs. Indy in Week 7, but that remains his only target over the last month.
The second-year back’s athletic profile—4.56 forty, 32-inch vertical—was never elite, yet the bigger issue is usage: head coach Brian Callahan has labeled Tony Pollard the clear early-down and two-minute back, relegating Haskins to special-teams work and the occasional change-of-series carry. Offensive coordinator Nick Holz admitted Tennessee wants to lighten Pollard’s load, but so far that has materialized in empty-back shotgun sets, not extra Haskins touches. Add in a Titans defense that’s allowing 28 points per game since Week 5, and game flow keeps funneling the offense toward passing downs where Haskins simply doesn’t play.
From a schematic standpoint, the Chargers’ 5-2 front with Derwin James lurking as an overhang defender erases most cut-back lanes, forcing outside runs—an area where Haskins owns a below-average 3.4 yards per carry this season. Los Angeles also blitzes at a 32% rate on early downs, pressuring young quarterbacks into quick throws; because Haskins is not used as a pass protector, he’s the first subbed out on obvious passing downs. Even if the Titans jump ahead, red-zone snaps have trended to Pollard plus tight-end heavy personnel, so Haskins would need an injury to see goal-line work.
Bottom line: unless you’re in a 16-team dynasty league where handcuffing Pollard is mandatory, Haskins belongs on waivers in Week 9. His median projection sits at 4.2 carries for 17 rushing yards and 0.8 receptions for 5 receiving yards—good for 3.1 PPR points, well outside the top-60 RBs. Sit him in all formats and pivot to higher-floor backups like Ty Chandler or even a receiving-role specialist such as Trayveon Williams if you absolutely need a desperation flex.