Bucky Irving Fantasy Overview

2024 Summary

Production & Fantasy Finishes

Irving ran for 1,122 yards and eight TDs on 207 carries as a rookie last year. He added 392 more yards on 47 catches to finish 14th among RBs in total PPR points and 20th in points per game.

Irving was even more productive over the second half of the season. He climbed from 11.1 points per game over his first nine to 18.3 over his final eight. Only five RBs averaged more points per game than Irving over that latter stretch. And, if we omit the Week 14 game that Irving left early, he jumps to fourth among RBs with 20.5 PPR points per game.

Irving averaged 129 total yards and 0.7 TDs over his final seven healthy games.

Usage & Role

Irving earned a significant role right out of the gate last year, playing 31% of Tampa Bay’s offensive snaps and handling nine carries with three targets in the season opener. He continued to work as the 1B to Rachaad White over the first half of the season. Through Week 9, Irving averaged 9.2 carries and 2.8 targets per game, ranking 36th among RBs in expected PPR points per game.

The backfield tilted in Irving’s favor over the second half of the season. He jumped to 15.5 carries and 3.4 targets per game and ranked 13th at the position in expected PPR points per game.

If we omit Week 14, when a back injury limited Irving to just 10 snaps and five touches, he climbs to 17.1 carries and 3.7 targets per game. His expected-point average jumps to ninth among RBs.

Irving played at least 44% of the Buccaneers’ offensive snaps in his last seven healthy games, topping 52% in five of them. That included a season-high 71.6% snap rate in Tampa Bay’s must-win Week 18 game.

Irving then played 68.8% of the snaps in the team’s playoff loss, handling 17 carries and two targets. White finished that game with just one carry and two targets.

Efficiency Metrics

Irving ripped off 5.4 yards per carry last year — fifth best among 47 RBs with 90+ carries.

He got plenty of help from a strong offensive line, but Irving did lots of damage on his own. Among those 47 RBs, he ranked:

• 6th in rush yards over expected per attempt
• 1st in yards after contact per attempt
• 4th in missed tackles forced per attempt

Irving was super efficient in the passing game, too, hauling in 90.4% of his targets and averaging 8.3 yards per catch. He ranked sixth among 37 qualifying RBs in yards per route and second in Pro Football Focus receiving grade.

Offensive Context

Irving played in a strong Tampa Bay offense that ranked third in total yards and fourth in points. The Bucs finished sixth in total plays and leaned toward the run, ranking 13th with a 44.1% rush rate. They finished 10th in total rush attempts.

Irving also benefited from a top-tier offensive line. The 2024 Bucs ranked:

• 16th in Pro Football Focus run blocking grade
• 6th in ESPN run block win rate
• 2nd in adjusted line yards

Historical Production & Trends

A poor Combine — namely a 4.55-second 40 time at 192 pounds — sunk Irving to Round 4 of the 2024 NFL Draft.

But he sported an impressive college profile. Irving topped 1,000 rushing yards as a sophomore and junior at Oregon, averaging 6.5 yards per carry over that stretch and ranking near the top of the country in yards after contact per attempt. He also racked up 87 catches across those two seasons, including a RB-high 56 in 2023.

Injury History

Irving played all 17 games last year but dealt with hamstring, toe, hip, and back injuries.

HC Todd Bowles said in October that Irving has been dealing with a toe issue since college, although it did not cost him any games in school either.

2025 Expectations

Projected Role & Competition

The Buccaneers made no significant additions to the backfield this offseason, returning Irving, Rachaad White, and Sean Tucker.

OC Josh Grizzard said in May that he envisions the 2025 backfield looking similar to how it did at the end of the 2024 season.

“I would say how we ended last season was essentially where we would take off," Grizzard said. "There’s a spot for all three of those guys.”

While it sounds like the Bucs want to keep White and Tucker involved, it also sounds like Irving will open the season as the clear lead back. We’re not projecting him to handle quite as much work as he did down the stretch last year, but that type of workload is certainly within the range of outcomes.

Supporting Cast

Lots of continuity in Irving’s supporting cast heading into 2025. QB Baker Mayfield, WRs Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan, and TE Cade Otton are all back. Tampa Bay bolstered the WR corps by using the 19th overall pick of this spring’s draft on WR Emeka Egbuka. This should be a strong passing game again.

The Buccaneers also return all five starters from last year’s offensive line. That’s excellent news considering how good the unit was last year.

Coaching & Offensive Scheme

Former OC Liam Coen left to take the Jaguars’ HC job this offseason after leading Tampa Bay to top-four finishes in points and total yards last year.

He’ll be replaced by Josh Grizzard, who was the team’s passing game coordinator last year. Grizzard spent the previous seven seasons with the Dolphins, moving from offensive quality control to WRs coach. He has no play-calling experience at any level, but the Bucs are prioritizing continuity after the big 2024 season under Coen.

Production & Efficiency Trends

The biggest question with Irving is whether his 192-pound frame can hold up to lead-back duties.

Irving last year became the 45th sub-200-pound RB since 1970 to top 200 carries in a season. 19 of those RBs (42.2%) never reached 200 carries in a season again.

Irving already dealt with multiple injuries last year, particularly over the second half of the season when his snaps and touches grew.