Who Should I Start? Bucky Irving or Quinshon Judkins

Monday, February 16, 2:21 PM

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.

Tuesday, February 24, 12:47 PM

Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins (ankle) is out of his walking boot and will be "good to go" for training camp this summer, general manager Andrew Berry told Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN. Judkins will be fully healthy entering his second season in the NFL after having surgery to fix the dislocated right ankle that he suffered in late December. The 22-year-old second-rounder out of Ohio State ran the ball 230 times for 827 yards (3.6 yards per carry) and seven touchdowns in 14 starts in his first NFL season in 2025, adding 26 receptions on 36 targets for 171 yards through the air. He took over as the team's lead back pretty early on and should be the RB1 for the Browns in 2026, giving him RB2 value in fantasy drafts this fall. The Browns are expected to devote plenty of resources to improving their offensive line this offseason, which should benefit Judkins as he enters Year 2.