Who Should I Start? Brian Robinson Jr. or Bucky Irving

Saturday, November 29, 3:47 AM

San Francisco 49ers running back Brian Robinson Jr.'s fantasy value faces a hard cap in his change-of-pace role behind Christian McCaffrey. With the offense flowing through McCaffrey to the tune of nearly 25 touches per game, on average, those changes of pace are few and far between. To his credit, Robinson has been effective when on the field, logging 4.7 yards per carry in 2025. In Week 13, the 49ers travel to Cleveland to face the Browns. With strong winds, rain, and snow in the forecast, San Francisco will likely lean into the run game, which could provide Robinson a few more opportunities than usual. He can be avoided in most formats, but could be of use in deep leagues on Sunday.

Saturday, November 29, 9:06 AM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (shoulder, foot) is on track to return to the field for Sunday's Week 13 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Irving practiced in full all week, which puts him on track to play, barring any setbacks. This will be the first time that Irving has played since Week 4. That being said, Irving is expected to be limited in terms of snaps during his first game back. The Bucs have two other capable options in Sean Tucker and Rachaad White as well. This could turn into a three-back committee which would be bad news for fantasy managers. The Bucs might decide to ride the hot hand in what could be a run-heavy gameplan given quarterback Baker Mayfield (shoulder) is dealing with an AC joint issue. It's tough to trust Irving as more than a high-end flex option during his first game back.