Who Should I Start? Samaje Perine or Bucky Irving

Monday, March 10, 3:44 PM

The Cincinnati Bengals are bringing back running back Samaje Perine on a two-year deal worth up to $3.8 million, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. Perine spent was with the organization for four years before joining the Kansas City Chiefs on a one-year deal last offseason. Overall, the 2017 fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma has rushed for 1,922 yards and nine touchdowns on 474 carries in 104 career games. The 29-year-old is a reliable pass-blocker and could carve out a role behind Chase Brown, but he has limited fantasy football upside barring a Brown injury.

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.