There’s always one running back every fantasy football season that makes you stop, stare at the rankings, and ask:
“How in the world is this guy being drafted there?”
This year, for me, it’s Bucky Irving. With an ADP of 45.2 and coming off the board as RB20, fantasy managers are drafting him behind names like Jeremiah Love, Josh Jacobs, Travis Etienne Jr., Javonte Williams, and Cam Skattebo.
And frankly, that feels like a massive overcorrection.
Fantasy Managers Should Stop Sleeping on Bucky Irving
We’re Overreacting to the Missed Games
Yes, Irving missed seven games last season. He has certainly dealt with injuries.
And yes, he was transparent about the mental health struggles he battled throughout the year.
Fantasy managers have taken all of that information and baked every bit of risk into his ADP. What they’re not doing is properly valuing the talent.
As a rookie, Irving exploded for over 1,100 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. Even while missing seven games last season, he still managed 588 rushing yards and continued to show the same burst, vision, and playmaking ability that made him one of the league’s most exciting young backs.
That’s not a player trending downward. That’s a player whose production was interrupted by circumstances.
The Biggest News of the Offseason? Bucky Is Already Back.
Not long ago, Todd Bowles suggested Irving’s recovery timeline could potentially stretch into the summer or even fall. Fast forward to today, and Irving is already back on the practice field this spring.
That matters.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers begin mandatory minicamp, and their lead running back is already participating. For fantasy managers, this should be viewed as a significant positive development.
Concerns about his health were among the biggest reasons his ADP slipped into the RB20 range. Seeing him return well ahead of some projected timelines should only reinforce the belief that he remains firmly entrenched as Tampa Bay’s RB1 heading into 2026.
If there was any concern that the Buccaneers were preparing to move toward a true committee approach, Irving’s early return should help quiet some of that noise.
The Committee Fear Is Being Overblown
Fantasy football players hear the word “committee” and immediately panic. The addition of Kenneth Gainwell has caused many managers to assume Irving’s workload is about to disappear.
I don’t buy it.
The Buccaneers had a similar setup last season with Rachaad White occupying the complementary role. Irving still emerged as the superior runner, the more explosive playmaker, and the back Tampa Bay trusted when they needed production.
Gainwell is a useful piece. Sean Tucker remains quality depth. But neither player profiles as the centerpiece of this backfield.
Bucky Irving does.
New Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson Is Excited About Irving
One of the most encouraging developments for Irving’s fantasy outlook is the arrival of new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. Robinson recently discussed the balancing act of managing touches throughout a season, but his comments about Irving were incredibly revealing. He noted that there’s a fine line between managing workload and maximizing production, but also emphasized that he believes Irving can run every concept in the offense.
That’s exactly what fantasy managers want to hear.
Inside zone. Outside zone. Gap concepts. Passing situations. Third downs. Two-minute offense.
When a coordinator says a running back can do everything, that’s usually the player they’re building around.
Not a rotational piece. Not a specialist. A featured back.
Be sure to check our fantasy football preview of Bucky Irving and the 2026 Buccaneers!
The Production Already Exists
Through his first two NFL seasons, Irving has already accumulated:
- 380 carries
- 1,700 rushing yards
- 4.5 yards per carry
- 9 rushing touchdowns
- 77 receptions
- 669 receiving yards
- Over 8 yards per reception
- 3 receiving touchdowns
Fantasy managers spend every offseason chasing potential. Irving has already shown us production. That’s a major difference.
Tampa Bay May Lean on Him More Than Ever
The Buccaneers’ offense is entering a transition period. Yes, Chris Godwin remains one of the most reliable receivers in football. But beyond him, this is a young receiving corps that is still developing.
The departure of Mike Evans leaves behind a significant amount of opportunity and offensive responsibility. Young receiving groups often lead offenses to rely more heavily on their running backs.
That means:
- More designed touches
- More screens
- More checkdowns
- More high-percentage throws
- More opportunities for the running back to create after the catch
That’s exactly where Irving thrives. He’s not simply a runner. He’s a weapon.
My Ranking Is Much Higher Than Consensus
Current ADP has Bucky at RB20, and I completely disagree. In my rankings, I’d have Irving much closer to the Top 20 overall players in fantasy football. That puts him in the same neighborhood as backs like De’Von Achane, Saquon Barkley, and James Cook.
For me, he’s closer to RB10-RB12 than RB20.
The fantasy community is pricing in:
- the injuries,
- the missed games,
- the mental health concerns,
- the addition of Gainwell,
- and the fear of a committee.
What they’re not pricing in is the upside. A healthy Bucky Irving could realistically produce:
- 250+ touches
- 50+ receptions
- 1,400+ total yards
- 10+ touchdowns
And if he does? He’s not finishing as RB20. He’s finishing as a weekly RB1.
Final Thoughts
Fantasy football is often about finding where perception and reality don’t match. Right now, perception says Bucky Irving is an injury risk in a crowded backfield.
Reality says he’s a young, explosive running back who has already produced at a high level, has the trust of his coaching staff, is back on the practice field ahead of schedule, and remains the clear RB1 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The fantasy community seems focused on what could go wrong. I’m focused on what happens if everything goes right.
At RB20 pricing, Bucky Irving might be one of the biggest steals in fantasy football drafts this season.
Looking for your favorite team? This link will take you to the rest of our 2026 Look Inside team previews.
A Look Inside the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Editor’s Note: While this article focused 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
Like Irving, Mayfield had an incredible 2024 followed by a less-than-stellar 2025. But even with that step back, he was still the QB12 in fantasy, mainly on the back of playing all 17 games. But that is something. Mayfield is tough and won’t miss much time. His TDs plummeted, from 44 total in 2024 to 27 in 2025. With Zac Robinson coming in, the system in Tampa this year will more closely resemble 2024, and I think Mayfield will find a happy middle between the last two seasons. The difference is that he is basically free in single-QB leagues now. If you wait until the end of your draft for QB, Mayfield is one of the best options.
Kenneth Gainwell
Gone is Rachaad White. Enter Kenny Gainwell. Gainwell had a career year in Pittsburgh last year. Notably, he was able to usurp the passing-down role from Jaylen Warren, catching 73 passes on 85 targets. That lines him up for the exact role vacated by White, meaning Gainwell will be a thorn in the side of every Bucky manager. On his own, Gainwell still has fantasy value. If he is the pass-catcher, as an upside RB3. If this turns to a 50-50 split, probably as an RB2.
Sean Tucker
We at Club Fantasy LOVE SEAN TUCKER. We have also come to realize that he is never going to see the volume to be fantasy-relevant on a weekly basis. Watch for injuries to either Irving or Gainwell, and scoop him off waivers immediately.
Emeka Egbuka
Egbuka was the talk of the town for about a month last year. From Weeks 1-5, he was the third-best WR in fantasy football. Then he fell off. From Weeks 6-18, he had just one more 20-point week and was the WR43 in fantasy. We saw the upside. We saw the downside. In 2026, with Mike Evans now in San Fran, Egbuka should have a more solidified role in the offense. Egbuka is not Mike Evans, but he does not need to be. There were comps to Robert Woods coming out of college, and Woods THRIVED in this McVay-style offense. He is probably closer to WR25 than WR5, but he could have an excellent fantasy season.
Chris Godwin
With Evans gone, Godwin is the undisputed leader of this group, but that is not how he is being drafted. Savvy fantasy managers will pounce on this value. Baker Mayfield loves Chris Godwin. This scheme loves Chris Godwin. When it was Liam Coen here, Godwin’s role was the big slot, a la Cooper Kupp with the Rams. Zac Robinson runs a version of that same offense. That is a very valuable role in fantasy, and if Godwin is healthy, he might have more upside than any other mid-round pick in fantasy football.
Cade Otton
Otton will be the forgotten man here. With a plethora of options at WR and even RB to throw to, the TE is likely to get frozen out. He will have weeks, especially if a WR or two misses time, but leave him on waivers until that happens.
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And before you go, check out where Bucky Irving and the rest of the Buccaneers fall in our 2026 Fantasy Rankings!
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