Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Running Back #7
FANTASY NEWS STATS INJURY

Bucky Irving News RotoBaller

Bucky Irving Will Play Against Chiefs on Saturday

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said on Monday that his starters, including running back Bucky Irving, will dress and play in the team's second preseason game on Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Irving and the rest of the starting offensive unit were held out of the preseason opener on Friday against the New York Jets. The Bucs let Rachaad White walk in free agency in March, but they added pass-catching dynamo Kenny Gainwell to their backfield to replace him. The 23-year-old Irving should continue to be Tampa's go-to option on early downs and near the goal line, but Gainwell figures to eat into valuable pass-catching opportunities out of the backfield as the team tries to keep Irving healthy after he played in just 10 games in 2025. Irving had 1,514 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns in 17 games as a rookie in 2024. Because of the lack of clarity in Tampa's backfield between Irving and Gainwell in a new offensive scheme, fantasy managers should target Irving as more of a low-end RB2.

Aug 17, 2026 11:55 AM EST

Will the Buccaneers Lighten Bucky Irving's Workload?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving exploded as the overall RB13 during his rookie season in 2024, but as a result of injuries and workload management, he played in just 10 games last year and fell to RB34 in PPR leagues. Rachaad White and Sean Tucker consistently ate into Irving's workload last year, and while White has since departed for Washington, Tucker remains in the backfield and has been joined by Kenneth Gainwell. It's fair to wonder if the Buccaneers are going to use Gainwell similarly to how the Steelers did last year and adopt a true split backfield. In Pittsburgh, Gainwell handled 114 carries and 73 receptions (187 touches) while Jaylen Warren had 211 carries and 40 catches (254 touches). When all was said and done, the two backs combined for 441 touches, but Warren only had 67 more than Gainwell. Presumably, the Bucs will use Gainwell on a variety of downs -- not just third down -- in an attempt to keep Irving fresh for a full season after he missed seven games last year. With that being said, the addition of Gainwell to the backfield isn't necessarily bad news for Irving's fantasy stock. While we may not see him push for 20-25 touches as often, he'll theoretically stay fresh for a bigger portion of the season, perhaps allowing him to stay available for all 17 games. We're still confident in Irving's ability to serve as a mid-range RB2 for fantasy football managers this season.

Aug 17, 2026 6:10 AM EST

Bucky Irving Making a Big Impression on New Offensive Coordinator

The Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud writes that Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving is making a big impression on new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson in training camp. "His feet are always in the ground," Robinson said. "So he's always able to change direction and, obviously, that keeps him so balanced to be able to break tackles." Irving missed all of the team's organized team activities in May and June while rehabbing a shoulder injury, but he is back now and is looking quick and decisive since pads went on this past week. "Bucky is a stud," Robinson said. Irving had a great rookie year in former OC Liam Coen's outside-zone running scheme, and Robinson's and Coen's offensive styles are similar. The 23-year-old had a 1,000-yard rushing season with eight touchdowns as a rookie, but injuries slowed him down in 2025, and he finished with 588 rushing yards and only one TD in 10 games. A bounce-back in 2026 should be coming for Irving if he stays healthy, but injury risk and the addition of pass-catching back Kenny Gainwell figure to limit Irving's overall ceiling as more of an RB2 in his third NFL campaign. Stroud also mentions Gainwell's seamless transition to Tampa's RB room.

Aug 7, 2026 8:28 AM EST

Bucky Irving Given Most Carries During Practice on Friday

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving was given the most carries during practice on Friday, according to Pewter Report's Adam Slivon. The Bucs had their best day on the ground so far in training camp with Irving leading the way. The 23-year-old provided the biggest run of the day on a delayed handoff through the middle of the field that would have been a "game-changing run." Additionally, Kenny Gainwell was primarily utilized as a receiver out of the backfield during practice. Irving has seen his fantasy stock steadily decline over the summer due to unfavorable reports about his health. If he continues to impress in camp, it will not take long for his ADP to rise back to where it was a year ago.

Jul 31, 2026 12:08 PM EST

Bucky Irving Taking First-Team Reps, Running at Full Speed

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving was limited to 10 games in 2025 in his sophomore season while dealing with ankle and shoulder injuries, but he is fully healthy for training camp this summer and has been taking first-team reps, according to Scott Smith of the team's official website. Not only was he taking first-team reps, but Smith reports that Irving was running at full speed and looked like the back he was during his remarkable rookie campaign in 2024, in which he had 1,122 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, adding 47 receptions for 392 yards as a receiver in 17 games. "He feels fine, he's great," said head coach Todd Bowles. "He's full speed. He's full-go right now. Obviously, when we get in pads, we're not easing him back from anything. So, we feel pretty good right now." Coming off injuries and with the addition of pass-catching back Kenny Gainwell, Irving has fallen in the fantasy rankings and should be targeted as more of a low-end RB2. It certainly feels like the Bucs plan to give Irving more help with Gainwell and Sean Tucker to keep him healthy all year.

Jul 30, 2026 8:25 AM EST

Bucky Irving a Full-Go to Open Training Camp

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving is a full-go for the team's Wednesday training camp practice, with head coach Todd Bowles telling reporters that he looks good. Buccaneers senior writer Scott Smith reports that Irving is not being eased into anything after sitting out the team's mandatory minicamp practices while recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Irving missed seven games in 2025 while dealing with a shoulder subluxation and foot sprain and was visibly impacted by the injuries when he did take the field, averaging 3.4 yards per carry while finding the end zone only once on the ground. The lack of limitation to begin camp is positive news for drafters, but fantasy managers will still need to pay attention to his reported usage throughout the summer, as the Buccaneers added pass-catching specialist Kenny Gainwell this offseason, potentially lowering Irving's fantasy floor and ceiling. The third-year back is RotoBaller's RB25 for 2026.

Jul 29, 2026 6:51 AM EST

Bucky Irving Could be Set For Reduced Workload to Improve Efficiency

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles has already declared running back Bucky Irving (shoulder) as healthy following offseason shoulder surgery, but there are still some reasons for concern if you're considering drafting him in fantasy football. Irving burst on the scene as a rookie in Tampa in 2024 with 1,122 rushing yards and eight touchdowns on 207 carries while also catching 47 passes for 392 yards as a receiver, but he had an injury-plagued 2025 and finished with 588 rushing yards and just one TD while adding 30 receptions for 277 yards and three more scores. He's looking to return to the 1,000-yard mark in 2026, but will that be possible following the addition of Kenny Gainwell? Pewter Report's Scott Reynolds writes that there's a reason why Bowles has called Irving and Gainwell 1A and 1B. Gainwell is very talented, and the Bucs gave him a two-year, $14 million deal in free agency. He has impressed new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, and he will "see plenty of snaps and touches" this fall to "reduce Irving's workload so he can be more effective with fewer plays." It's how the Bucs' backfield operated when Irving and Rachaad White shared the workload in 2024. Between durability concerns and the loss of volume to Gainwell, Irving is shaping up as a volatile low-end RB2 target in 2026 fantasy drafts.

Jul 24, 2026 12:28 PM EST

Bucky Irving Says he'll be Ready for Training Camp

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving told Mark Skol Jr. of FOX 13 News on Monday at his annual youth football camp that he will be good to go for the start of training camp. The Bucs could ease Irving into drills early in camp after he had offseason surgery on his shoulder, but barring a setback this summer, he should be a full-go for the start of the 2026 regular season in early September. The 23-year-old former fourth-rounder in 2024 out of the University of Oregon had 1,122 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns on 207 carries in his rookie campaign, but he played in only 10 games in his sophomore season in 2025 due to injury and finished with a disappointing 588 yards and a touchdown on the ground on 173 rushing attempts, adding 30 receptions for 277 yards and three more TDs. Irving should be healthy, but he should be considered an injury risk as a low-end RB2 in fantasy football drafts going into Year 3, especially since Kenny Gainwell figures to factor in heavily on passing downs in Tampa's new offense in 2026. RotoBaller has Irving ranked as the No. 25 fantasy RB right now.

Jul 20, 2026 3:34 PM EST

Can Bucky Irving Return to His Rookie Season Form?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving has become one of the most divisive players in 2026 drafts. After a breakout rookie season in 2024 saw him rack up almost 1,600 yards on his way to an RB14 finish, foot and shoulder injuries, as well as reported off-field struggles, limited him to only 10 games in 2025. Returning to action in Week 13 after an eight-week absence, Irving looked like a shell of himself, unable to top four yards per carry in any of his final six games. On the season, his 3.4-yard-per-carry average was down a full two yards from his rookie season, and while he was able to provide 6.1 half-PPR points per game strictly through the passing game, more than 67% of that production came in the first four weeks of the season. Following offseason shoulder surgery, the bull case for Irving is that he can return to the efficiency of his rookie season and the start of 2025, when he was the RB10 through the first four weeks. His detractors will point to the two-year, $14 million deal given to Kenneth Gainwell as evidence that Irving's fantasy-friendly usage in the passing game is set to take a meaningful hit. Those conflicting opinions have him coming off the board around RB24 by current ADP, providing his believers the opportunity to snag him at a discount in hopes of what could be a league-winning bounceback season.

Jul 5, 2026 6:04 AM EST

Bucky Irving Back at Practice on Thursday

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (shoulder) was seen working out at organized team activities on Thursday. Irving is being worked back in slowly this offseason after having shoulder surgery, but he looked good on Thursday while catching passes at OTAs while doing other work as well. Although he might not be a full-go for the start of training camp at the end of next month, all signs point to the 23-year-old back being ready at some point this summer and for the start of the 2026 regular season in early September. The former fourth-rounder in 2024 out of the University of Oregon impressed with a 1,000-yard season and eight touchdowns on 207 carries while adding 47 receptions for 392 yards as a pass-catcher in 17 games as a rookie, but he played in only 10 games in 2025 due to injury and finished with 588 rushing yards and one touchdown for the Bucs. Irving's fantasy stock has fallen a bit going into his third year in the league because of durability concerns as he learns a new offense. Newcomer Kenneth Gainwell is also likely to steal valuable pass-catching reps from him. He still has clear RB2 upside if he can stay healthy, but Irving has fallen to No. 26 in RotoBaller's RB rankings for the 2026 season.

Jun 11, 2026 9:38 AM EST

Bucky Irving is Expected to be Ready for Training Camp

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (shoulder) continues to recover from offseason surgery but is not expected to face many limitations during training camp. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the lead running back is not expected to participate in the upcoming min-camp but will "likely" be ready for training camp at some point. While this report does not suggest the former Oregon standout will enter camp with a clean bill of health, he is trending in the right direction. Last season, Irving had a disappointing sophomore season, appearing in just 10 games, and saw his production decline sharply after suffering this injury. Over his last six contests, he averaged a mere 11.2 PPR points per game, a stark decline from the 18.5 PPR points per game he averaged from Weeks 1 through 4. Managers should continue to monitor his status over the summer, but he should be at full strength come the start of the season. If his workload were to be limited, newly signed Kenneth Gainwell will likely take on RB1 duties.

May 26, 2026 3:57 PM EST

Bucky Irving Expected Back in the Summer or Fall

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said that running back Bucky Irving (shoulder) is recovering well and is expected back sometime during the summer or fall, according to Pewter Report. Bowles also noted that Irving was working on the side on Tuesday with a trainer during the team's offseason program. The 23-year-old is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery, and it sounds like his availability for training camp and the preseason is a bit up in the air at the moment. It will allow both Kenneth Gainwell and Sean Tucker more reps during offseason workouts. Even if Irving is fully cleared for Week 1 of the 2026 regular season in early September, it's notable that he's going to miss pretty much the entire offseason program while the Bucs are implementing a new scheme under offensive coordinator Zac Robinson. The 23-year-old had a 1,000-yard rushing season in 2024 in his first year in the league and added eight rushing touchdowns, but he played in only 10 games last year due to injury and is a durability concern as an RB2 target in 2026 fantasy leagues. If Irving were to miss more time this year, Sean Tucker could be Tampa's early-down back, with Gainwell operating primarily as a pass-catcher.

May 26, 2026 9:46 AM EST

Can Bucky Irving Bounce Back After Injury-Marred 2025?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving was one of the breakout success stories of the 2024 season, recording over 1,500 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie. However, foot and shoulder injuries caused him to miss seven games in 2025 and limited him to just 865 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns for the year. Irving's efficiency as a rusher also plummeted precipitously, as he averaged just 3.4 yards per carry after averaging 5.4 yards per carry in 2024. Irving could easily bounce back with better health in 2026. However, Irving's stature as an undersized back leads to questions about whether he can make it through a full NFL season healthy. Additionally, Tampa Bay signed veteran running back Kenneth Gainwell to a two-year contract in free agency. Gainwell topped 1,000 scrimmage yards as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, and his presence caps Irving's workload upside. While Irving still carries plenty of fantasy upside, his dynasty value is more of an open question coming off a down season.

Apr 19, 2026 10:29 AM EST

Bucky Irving Could See Reduced Workload in 2026 and Beyond

After a breakout rookie season in which he totaled over 1,500 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns in 2024, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving recorded an underwhelming follow-up campaign in 2025. The 23-year-old recorded 865 scrimmage yards and four touchdowns on 203 touches, and missed seven games due to foot and shoulder injuries. In the offseason, Tampa Bay signed veteran back Kenneth Gainwell to a two-year, $14 million contract. Gainwell recorded 73 receptions for 486 yards on 85 targets as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, so he figures to take some work away from Irving in the Buccaneers' passing game at the very least. After Irving's injury-plagued 2025, Tampa Bay could be prioritizing keeping him healthy throughout the season by limiting his touches on a game-to-game basis. Irving still carries significant fantasy upside in dynasty formats, but he profiles more as an RB2 than a sure-fire RB1 heading into 2026.

Mar 30, 2026 11:59 AM EST

Is Bucky Irving's RB1 Role in Tampa Bay in Danger?

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (shoulder) has been an electric player when healthy through his first two NFL seasons, collecting nearly 2,400 scrimmage yards and 12 touchdowns across 27 games played. However, Irving recently underwent offseason shoulder surgery after missing seven games in 2025 due to shoulder and ankle ailments. While Irving is expected to be ready to go for the start of 2026, the 23-year-old is an undersized back, and Tampa Bay may have questions about his ability to hold up while shouldering a true RB1 workload. The Buccaneers made a big splash at the running back position early in free agency, signing veteran back Kenneth Gainwell to a two-year deal with an eight-figure guarantee. Gainwell is coming off a breakout season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and could emerge as Tampa Bay's primary receiving and short-yardage back. The Buccaneers also have a solid third-string option in Sean Tucker, who racked up eight touchdowns in 2025. Irving's fantasy value in dynasty formats looks a bit less clear after the addition of Gainwell to the Tampa Bay backfield.

Mar 12, 2026 6:51 AM EST

Bucky Irving Undergoes Offseason Shoulder Surgery

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (shoulder) had offseason surgery on his shoulder, according to JoeBucsFan.com. Irving missed seven straight games last year from Weeks 5 through 12 with ankle and shoulder injuries. His ankle healed before his shoulder. The good news is that Irving's recovery and rehab are not expected to significantly impact his offseason preparation. Irving had 1,122 rushing yards and 5.4 yards per carry as a rookie in 2024, but his production dropped in Year 2 due to his injuries, as he finished with 588 rushing yards (3.4 yards per carry). The 23-year-old could have a bigger role in Tampa's backfield next season with Rachaad White not expected to return in free agency, although the Bucs will probably prioritize adding RB depth after Irving's injury issues in 2025. Irving will have bounce-back potential for fantasy managers this year, but he'll also carry injury risk as an RB2 target.

Feb 16, 2026 2:21 PM EST

Bucky Irving Compared to Falcons Star Running Back

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving was a disappointment for fantasy managers in 2025 while missing seven games because of shoulder and foot injuries. New offensive coordinator Zac Robinson had good things to say about Irving, though, and the 23-year-old could be a popular bounce-back candidate this fall with Rachaad White likely to leave in free agency. "I see Bucky in a very similar light [to Bijan Robinson] there with what he can do in the passing game, and there's not a run concept that he can't run," Robinson said. "So I'm excited to work with Bucky and know that there is a ton of meat on the bone in the passing game." Irving, a fourth-rounder in 2024 out of Oregon, rushed for 588 yards and only one touchdown on 173 carries in 10 games in 2025, but he proved to be worthy of lead-back duties after carrying the ball 207 times for 1,122 yards and eight rushing TDs in 17 games as a rookie. Don't sleep on Irving going into next season.

Feb 10, 2026 2:23 PM EST

Bucky Irving Could Bounce Back With Bigger Role, Better Health in 2026

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving had high expectations going into his sophomore season in 2025 after rushing for 1,122 yards and eight touchdowns on 207 carries in his rookie campaign in 2024. Unfortunately, the injury bug bit him, and he ended up playing in only 10 games, carrying the ball 173 times for 588 yards (3.4 yards per carry) and just one rushing touchdown. Irving added 30 receptions on 35 targets for 277 yards and three more touchdowns. Fantasy managers who drafted him were extremely disappointed in his overall production. The good news is that Irving should be fully healthy this offseason as he heads into Year 3, and a bigger role could await in Tampa's backfield with Rachaad White expected to depart in free agency. Sean Tucker will be involved, but Irving has already proven he has a three-down skill set. At a reduced cost, Irving will be a popular value pick in fantasy football drafts this fall.

Feb 3, 2026 3:17 PM EST

Bucky Irving Ready to Unleash in Week 16

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving took on the majority of the workload in Week 15, totaling just 71 scrimmage yards on 17 attempts. Since returning from shoulder and foot injuries in Week 13, Irving has totaled 233 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 53 attempts, averaging 13.4 PPR points per game. While he started the season as the primary workhorse in this Buccaneers' offense, Irving has been limited to just 54% of the snaps, while backups Rachaad White (43% and Sean Tucker (14%) have been factors. Irving faces the Carolina Panthers defense in Week 16, which has allowed the tenth-most fantasy points to running backs this season. In his only two games against the Panthers in his career, he has had over 185 scrimmage yards in both outings. In a must-win game for the Buccaneers and with his favorable history against Carolina, look for Irving to unleash in Week 16.

Dec 17, 2025 10:13 AM EST

Bucky Irving Heating Up Heading into Fantasy Playoffs

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving has worked his way back from injury and is starting to heat up at the perfect time for fantasy managers. Since making his return in Week 13. Irving has totaled 162 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns in the past two games. His snap count has been limited since returning, as he's played just 53% of the snaps, while Rachaad White has played 44% and Sean Tucker has played 16%. Hopefully, Irving can pull away from this rotation as he did in his rookie season, where he averaged 17.4 PPR points per game from Week 15 on. He faces the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15, who Irving has yet to eclipse 45 rushing yards in his NFL career. Despite his previous struggles against this Falcons defense, fantasy managers should fire up the second-year back as a low-end RB1 in Week 15.

Dec 11, 2025 11:03 AM EST