BuckyIrving

News: 43 minutes agoIrving notched 15 carries for 46 yards and two catches (on four targets) for 12 yards during Sunday's 23-16 loss to the Vikings.

Spin: Irving now has earned at least 15 touches in each of the Buccaneers' first three games of the campaign., but his 58 yards from scrimmage represent a season low to date. In the wake of QB Baker Mayfield dislocating his right throwing thumb late in the contest, it stands to reason that Tampa Bay will rely more on its ground game with undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels likely taking over under center next Sunday against the Packers and potentially beyond that point. In such a scenario, Irving could be poised for more volume, though his efficiency may take a hit due to facing more stacked boxes.

ESPN Fantasy Projection: Irving enters his third season coming off a disappointing 2025 campaign in which he missed seven games and struggled with efficiency. After averaging 5.42 yards per carry and producing 1,514 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie, Irving fell to 3.40 YPC (fourth worst among qualified RBs), 865 yards and four touchdowns in 2025. He failed to clear 4.2 YPC in any of his 10 outings and had zero carries inside the opponent's 5 yard line. The 24-year-old remains positioned as the lead back in Tampa Bay, but the combination of his small frame (5-foot-9, 192 pounds) and the arrival of Kenneth Gainwell (not to mention Sean Tucker at the goal line) suggest he might play a lesser role moving forward. Irving should be valued as a back-end RB2.