Who Should I Start? Alvin Kamara or Bucky Irving

Thursday, February 13, 5:07 PM

It sounds like New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara will remain a big part of the offense under new head coach Kellen Moore in 2025. "Obviously one of the premiere players in our league, his ability to play in the pass game and the run game, all the different versatile roles that he can play. And so that's been a really important piece. It'll continue to be a really important piece," Moore said at his opening press conference on Thursday. Kamara isn't getting any younger and is entering his age-30 campaign -- typically the age when RBs begin breaking down -- but he didn't slow down in 2024 and had 1,493 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns while remaining active as a pass-catcher (68 receptions). The quarterback position is a question mark for the Saints this offseason, but with Moore calling plays, Kamara should remain heavily involved and enter the fall as a low-end RB1 in fantasy, at worst.

Monday, January 13, 12:53 AM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving rushed for 77 yards on 17 carries during Sunday's playoff loss to the Washington Commanders. He also caught two passes for an additional six yards through the air. In the loss, Irving averaged his lowest yards per carry since Week 9 (excluding his injury-shortened Week 14), which is not an indictment on his performance but rather a testament to just how well he's been running the football lately. He carved out the lead-back role once again on Sunday, registering 17 carries to Rachaad White's one. White has essentially been delegated to pass-catching situations, and even then, he continues to lose opportunities to Irving. It has been fascinating to watch this backfield dynamic develop throughout the season, with White slipping way down from the RB1 tier in fantasy football while Irving becomes one of the top running backs in dynasty fantasy football (and a mid-range RB1 in redraft leagues, too). Barring an unexpected change or addition within the Buccaneers' backfield, Irving should remain their primary ball carrier entering 2025.