Who Should I Start? Kenneth Walker or Bucky Irving
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.0 | 64.6 | 0.5 | 2.9 | 20.4 | 0.1 |
Kenneth Walker News
Thursday, August 27, 7:50 PM
Kansas City Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker could play a key role in taking the offense to new heights this season, according to Nate Taylor of ESPN.com. "The Chiefs know Walker presents a more dangerous threat that should force linebackers and safeties to move forward before Mahomes attempts a play-action pass," Taylor wrote. He also noted that Walker was fourth in percentage of runs that gained 10 or more yards last year, and that quarterback Patrick Mahomes recently identified Walker as the reason he's particularly intrigued by the Chiefs' offense. It can be tough to know which hype we should believe during the preseason, but it does seem like Walker could be the answer to the Chiefs' problems. The Chiefs certainly think so, as they signed the ex-Seahawk to a three-year, $43 million deal. If Kansas City can get the run game going this year, they'll remain the favorites to win the AFC West. As it stands, Walker is the RB9 in RotoBaller's latest half-PPR fantasy football draft rankings for 2026.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12.2 | 56.8 | 0.3 | 2.3 | 18.2 | 0.1 |
Bucky Irving News
Wednesday, August 26, 1:05 PM
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving is coming off a down 2025 season in which he played in just 10 games due to multiple injuries, ultimately finishing with 588 rushing yards and only one rushing touchdown on 173 carries in his second year in the NFL. Irving impressed with 1,122 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground on 207 rushing attempts as a rookie, adding 47 catches for 392 yards through the air. Rachaad White moved on in free agency in the offseason, but the Bucs added pass-catching specialist Kenny Gainwell, who will no doubt cut into key pass-game targets for the third-year back in 2026. The good news for Irving is that it is looking more likely that No. 3 RB Sean Tucker will not make the 53-man roster as the team looks to trim salary. If Tucker isn't on the roster for Week 1, it should only increase Irving's early-down volume out of Tampa's backfield. And even though Gainwell will have a key role in this new offense, Irving could have a clear path back to a 1,000-yard rushing season in 2026 if he stays healthy. His case as an RB2 with upside is looking better in fantasy football.
Kenneth Walker vs. Bucky Irving
Still trying to decide between Walker and Irving? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Kenneth Walker is projected to score 15.0 points this week while Bucky Irving is projected to score 12.2 points.
Latest Fantasy News
