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Yahoo Fantasy Forecast fantasy football takes on Bucky Irving
Every source-backed podcast insight STACKED has extracted from Yahoo Fantasy Forecast about Bucky Irving.
22
Insights
15
Positive
5
Negative
Insight ledger
All Yahoo Fantasy Forecast insights about Bucky Irving
PositiveProjectionSep 24, 2026
Matt Harmon intended Irving as his flex play for the entire season but failed to follow through; the Tampa Bay run game is real and Irving is a big-time hit at the position with the run game looking good as a bare minimum outcome.PositiveRoleSep 24, 2026
Irving holds 77% of running back touches with Sean Tucker and Kenny Gain providing minimal role; he is the clear lead back in Tampa Bay's run game, which ranks 17th in rushing success rate on early downs and 14th in explosive rushes with potential to reach top 10 in that category.PositiveBreakoutSep 24, 2026
Matt Harmon is high on Bucky Irving as a viable running back who will be real and productive; he knew this preseason and intended to use Irving as his flex player but missed out on redraft shares due to other options. Harmon believes the Buccaneers' run game has meat on the bone and Irving can be a key part of it, even though the passing game is struggling.PositiveBreakoutSep 17, 2026
Matt Harmon considers Bucky Irving a big winner coming out of Week 1, noting his vision and running ability. He views Irving as a fringe top-15 running back for the upcoming week.PositiveUsageSep 16, 2026
Bucky Irving saw excellent usage in Week 1, recording 59% route participation and a 26% target per route rate out of 11 personnel. He is viewed as a high-upside player in the Buccaneers' offense.NegativeUsageSep 14, 2026
Bucky Irving was part of the Buccaneers' 11-personnel heavy offense, though specific usage details were limited.PositiveProjectionSep 9, 2026
Bucky Irving is highlighted as a prime example of rookie growth, increasing from 11 opportunities and 8.2 fantasy points per game to 18 opportunities and 17 points per game late in the season.PositiveValueSep 7, 2026
Matt Harmon notes that he has become significantly higher on Bucky Irving throughout the offseason process, indicating he is a player to watch within the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense.PositiveValueSep 4, 2026
Matt Harmon notes that he has changed his mind on Bucky Irving and now considers him a good value pick in drafts.PositiveValueSep 3, 2026
Matt Harmon and Chris both agree that Bucky Irving is a great fantasy pick this year, with Harmon noting he has become a player he is squarely targeting despite initial uncertainty.PositiveValueSep 2, 2026
Joel Smith and Justin Boone value Bucky Irving as a good football player behind a top-five offensive line, making him a strong fifth-round pick.PositiveProjectionSep 2, 2026
Eric Froton selected Bucky Irving (referred to as Omarion Hampton) in the second round.PositiveRoleAug 14, 2026
Matt Harmon is increasingly high on Bucky Irving, who appears to be carving out a role as a passing-down back, impacting the value of Kenny Gainwell.PositiveValueAug 14, 2026
Matt Harmon has warmed up to Bucky Irving as a fifth-round pick, noting that while Kenny Gainwell may handle passing-down work, Irving is a superior runner behind a potentially top-five offensive line. Harmon dismisses Sean Tucker as a threat and believes Irving's tackle-breaking ability makes him a strong RB2 candidate.NegativeUsageAug 14, 2026
Matt Harmon notes that Bucky Irving is part of a three-person backfield in Tampa Bay, creating uncertainty regarding his role and production in his third season.PositiveValueAug 12, 2026
Harmon has changed his mind on Irving, moving him out of the 'coping corner' and into a targetable range in the fifth or sixth round. Irving is receiving positive reviews in Tampa Bay, and with a strong offensive line and ecosystem, Harmon believes he could outperform his rookie-year production, even if his ceiling is capped.PositiveValueAug 12, 2026
Matt Harmon expresses interest in Bucky Irving as a late-round RB2 option, suggesting that he may have overthought the impact of Kenny Gainwell's signing.NegativeValueJul 30, 2026
Matt Harmon took Bucky Irving in round 6 as a stop-gap RB2 option after failing to secure multiple early running backs due to poor value. Harmon had Irving in the "coping corner" since February, citing limited ceiling with Sean Tucker back; he doesn't project Irving as a top-10 RB or RB1, but views him as a viable top-24 option in round 6. Harmon notes the Buccaneers offense will be significantly better with an improved offensive line, and Irving remains the RB1 there, making round 6 a palatable ADP that bakes in risk while offering reward.NegativeProjectionMay 27, 2026
Given his injury and the addition of other running backs to the roster, Bucky Irving's ranking has dropped to the high-end RB3 range, and he is considered a player to avoid in drafts.NegativeInjuryMay 27, 2026
Bucky Irving is not expected to return until sometime in the summer or fall due to a shoulder injury, which raises significant concerns about his availability for the season.NegativeInjuryNo date
Todd Bowles initially stated Bucky Irving might not return until summer or fall, causing concern among fantasy players. However, Irving recently told local reporters he will be present for the start of training camp, alleviating immediate injury concerns. The bigger issue is role uncertainty due to Kenneth Gainwell's addition rather than Irving's health status.NegativeRoleNo date
Kenneth Gainwell's addition to the Buccaneers narrows Bucky Irving's role significantly. Irving loses goal-line work (retained by Sean Tucker) and pass-catching opportunities to Gainwell, who offers both rushing and receiving upside. The backfield is now a 1A/1B hot-hand situation. Irving's profile—a shifty, smaller running back with five games of 15+ rushing attempts in his rookie season—suggests the Buccaneers are concerned about workload durability. Harmon worries the team won't lean into giving Irving a big workload, making him more of a boom-bust RB3 similar to JK Dobbins' role (two-down grinder between the 20s) rather than a league-winning asset.