Bucky Irving

If the high points in Irving's 2024 rookie season were unsustainable, the low points in his challenging 2025 season involved instances of bad luck that are unlikely to persist once he finishes up his rehab from offseason shoulder surgery. Irving was particularly productive in the second half of his rookie season, but at 5-foot-10, 195, he may not be suited for huge workloads long-term. Unlike other sub-200-pound RBs like James Cook, Kyren Williams or De'Von Achane, Irving shows little interest in avoiding contact, running with a fearlessness that opens him up to punishment. He averaged 17.3 carries per game last season, similar to his late-2024 usage, but it might ultimately be better for the Buccaneers to make Irving a 15-carry back instead of trying to get him 20 totes per week. The addition of Kenneth Gainwell in free agency suggests as much, with Gainwell an obvious threat to handle both change-of-pace carries and passing-down work, even though Irving has also excelled as a receiver (7.7 YPT on 87 career targets). The nightmare scenario for Irving's fantasy value would be one where Gainwell gets most of the targets and No. 3 back Sean Tucker steals short-yardage touchdowns. The other major concern for Irving's fantasy value is that he seemingly didn't have shoulder surgery until the spring, which could mean limited practice availability in the lead-up to the regular season. Read Past Outlooks