When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Bucky Irving in 2024, few expected the immediate impact he would have. With Rachaad White leading the backfield, Irving’s role initially seemed limited to change-of-pace duties. But it didn’t take long for him to make his presence felt—his burst, vision, and ability to generate yards after contact quickly made him a trusted option for the coaching staff.
As the season progressed, his role steadily increased. What started as a handful of touches evolved into a fantasy-worthy workload, with a strong finish that caught everyone’s attention. Now, in 2025, Bucky Irving stands out as one of the top breakout candidates in fantasy football, and it’s worth exploring why he could be a game-changer in your draft.
Bucking Irving 2025 Fantasy Football Outlook
2024 Production: A True Breakout
Bucky Irving closed out his rookie season with over 1,500 yards from scrimmage and 8 touchdowns, far surpassing expectations. In PPR leagues, he posted 16+ points in seven of his final nine games, establishing himself as a solid RB2 with RB1 upside. He became the first Buccaneers rookie to rush for over 1,000 yards since Doug Martin in 2012, already etching his name into team history.
His breakout wasn’t a fluke. Every time he touched the ball, he made something happen. His lateral quickness, tackle-breaking ability (0.31 per carry), and red zone vision made him one of the most exciting backs to watch.
Reasons to Believe in Him for 2025
1. Increased Usage in the Backfield:
Irving gradually took over Rachaad White’s role, finishing the season as Tampa’s go-to option in the red zone. He saw over 46% of the goal-to-go snaps, and that number could climb in 2025.
2. Talent and Efficiency:
He averaged 5.4 yards per carry, one of the best among rookies. He was also a big-play threat, with 7.3% of his carries going for 15+ yards.
3. Involvement in the Passing Game:
Irving showed reliable hands and developing chemistry with the Bucs’ quarterback, making him a strong check-down option in PPR formats.
4. No Ceiling in Sight:
Analysts from sites like FantasyPros and CBS are projecting him as a potential RB1, recommending him in the late second to early third round in 2025 drafts.
Don’t miss our Tampa Bay Team Preview on YouTube!
Risks to Monitor
While the hype is warranted, there are some caution flags to keep an eye on:
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Backfield Competition: Rachaad White and Sean Tucker are still on the roster. While Irving appears to have won the lead role, a rotation isn’t out of the question.
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New Offensive System: The departure of OC Liam Coen adds uncertainty. A new scheme could shift the run-pass balance.
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Durability: A heavier workload means more wear and tear. It remains to be seen how Irving handles 250+ touches in a full season.
When Should You Draft Him?
Irving is a perfect target in PPR leagues. He’s currently going in the late second round (picks 20–24), and sometimes even slips into the third, making him a great value. If you can pair him with an elite WR or a proven RB, you’re building a strong foundation.
Conservative projection:
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1,200 total yards
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8–10 TDs
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40+ receptions
Bold projection:
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Top-8 RB by season’s end
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1,500+ total yards and 12+ TDs
Final Recommendation
Bucky Irving is one of the best values in the Round 2–3 range of 2025 Fantasy drafts. His blend of talent, opportunity, and efficiency makes him a safe pick with explosive upside. If you’re looking for a running back who could help win you your league without paying top-5 draft capital, this is your guy.
Don’t be surprised if, by December, you’re in your fantasy championship—with Bucky leading the charge.
Looking for your favorite team? This link will take you to the rest of our 2025 Look Inside team previews.
A Look Inside the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Editor’s Note: While this article focuses on Bucky Irving in fantasy football, we don’t want to leave you hanging on the rest of the team. Here is a quick look at the other fantasy-relevant Buccaneers from Ryan Weisse.
Baker Mayfield
Mayfield had the best season of his career in 2024…can he do it again? When you look at this offense as a whole, with all of the weapons at his disposal, you have to like his chances. It’s unlikely he hits 4000 yards and 40 TDs again, but 3800 and 30 should still keep him in the top-10. His ADP is up, so you’re drafting him at his ceiling, but it’s a pretty nice ceiling. For more on Mayfield, check out Renee’s article available in English and Spanish.
Rachaad White
White is a divisive figure here at Club Fantasy. Some of us recognize the fantasy potential of a running back used so heavily in the passing game. Others are wrong. Is White efficient? HELL NO! Does that matter for fantasy? Also no. He was the RB22 last year, even with Irving taking over the backfield. Like Mayfield, White is going to regress this season. He’ll likely fall to 120-ish carries and only score 2 or 3 receiving TDs, but that will still keep him in the Top 30. And if Irving goes down, White was the RB5 when he was the lead back in 2023. Safe floor, high ceiling, all at RB40 prices…yes, please!
Sean Tucker
The fantasy world loves Sean Tucker. As a Syracuse fan, I love Sean Tucker. But the NFL may not agree. In two NFL seasons, Tucker has just 76 touches. After his electric Week 6 last year, 192 total yards and two TDs, he was sent right back to the bench. He managed just 204 yards and one TD the rest of the season. If Irving gets hurt, he could handle the early-down role while White takes over on every 3rd down. If nobody gets hurt, 50 touches might be his ceiling.
Mike Evans
What more do I need to say about Evans? You want 1000 yards? He’ll deliver. He’s going for the NFL record of consecutive 1000-yard seasons this year, so I’m not betting against him. For fantasy, he should again fall between WR10 and WR20, so his ADP value is perfect. Enjoy the conistency.
Chris Godwin
Godwin should be good to go from last year’s injury, but the team adding Egbuka throws some shade at that prospect. Looking at last year before the injury, he was the second-best WR in all of fantasy, behind only Ja’Marr Chase. That would make him an immense value at his ADP. You might have to wait a week or four to see his full potential, but Godwin should pay off at his current draft cost.
Emeka Egbuka
Egbuka was one of the best receving prospects in this draft class, but now finds himself in a crowded receiver room. His tale is not unlike his former teammate, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. It was a quiet rookie year for JSN, with a Year 2 breakout. Those are my expecatation for Egbuka. He’s going to have a good week here and there, but outside of Evans or Godwin missing time, he won’t be conistent enough to roster outside of Best Ball formats.
Jalen McMillan
You got fired on your day off? McMillan wasn’t exactly fired, but the addition of Egbuka takes away what could have been a valuable WR3 role. Now, the two young recivers will liekly split the WR3/4 work pretty evenly, leaving both on the out for fantasy managers. It’s sad, becuase McMillan really came alive in the tail end of his rookie season.
Cade Otton
Otton had some great weeks last season when Godwin, Evans, or both missed time. This year, with the addition of Egbuka, it’s going to take three or more injuries to make Otton relevant. He is a trap for fantasy managers drafting off of last year’s stats without context. Otton likely won’t see 50 targets this year. He’s a streamer at best, and that will depend on who is healthy in any given week.
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