Who Should I Start? Jameson Williams or Bucky Irving

Friday, April 25, 12:03 PM

The Detroit Lions exercised wide receiver Jameson Williams' fifth-year option for the 2026 season on Friday, a source tells ESPN's Field Yates. This was a no-brainer move for the Lions after Williams broke out with his first 1,000-yard receiving season in 2024. The 24-year-old former first-rounder out of Ohio State is projected to make $15.49 million in 2026 on his fifth-year option. Williams played in only 18 games (10 starts) in his first two years in the NFL due to recovery from a torn ACL in his final year in college and a suspension for gambling last year. In 15 games (11 starts) during the regular season a year ago, he caught 58 of 91 targets for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns. He also added 11 carries for 61 yards and a TD. Williams has big-play ability every time he touches the ball, but his lack of volume in a loaded Detroit offense is worrisome and makes him a boom-or-bust fantasy commodity.

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.