Bucky Irving fantasy football insight from Hayden Winks - PPR Rankings

Irving was one of the best RBs in the NFL as a rookie. That's not an exaggeration. Without OC Liam Coen and worse injury luck across the OL, Bucky really regressed in 2025. Irving was 65th in rush yards over expected (-29%) and 64th in EPA per carry (-0.21) out of 66 qualifying RBs last season. He wasn't breaking as many tackles and looked worn down. Irving missed Weeks 5-13 with a foot sprain and a shoulder injury. The latter is what caused the lengthy absence last year and then caused a follow-up surgery in February. On May 26th, coach Todd Bowles said Irving is expected to return "by summer or fall." You truly hate to see a "or fall" while in spring. Two shoulder surgeries for a 5'10"/195 RB is problematic. The Bucs added his clone, Kenny Gainwell, this offseason on a 2-year, $14M contract with $10M guaranteed. That's real money at this position. Gainwell will eat into Irving's valuable receiving work, and Sean Tucker is twice as big as both of these backs and was stealing Irving's goal line work this last December. I fear Irving's RB11 stretch from 2024 Week 6 to the end of his rookie season is in the rear view with a new coaching staff, a lower projected implied team total (17th), and injuries quickly piling up. From Week 13 on last year when he came back from injury, Irving was the RB24 on RB18 usage. I am fading this RB20 ADP on Underdog and view him as a Round 5/6 candidate, rather than someone worthy of a Round 4 selection. Underdog projects him for 874.5 rushing yards and 5.5 rushing touchdowns. That's in the range of Kyle Monangai, Quinshon Judkins, and Jaylen...