Bucky Irving showed significant growth in his rookie season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, finishing as the team’s lead running back by year’s end and emerging as one of the most efficient values in fantasy football. As he enters his sophomore campaign, fantasy football managers are considering whether Irving is poised to make a major leap in production in 2024.
Impressive Efficiency Despite Limited Early Opportunities
Drafted in the third round, Irving surpassed expectations by averaging 14.4 fantasy points per game in points per reception (PPR) leagues, ultimately ranking as the RB19 overall. This achievement was notable, especially because he began the season behind Rachaad White and was largely unstartable during the first five weeks. Head coach Todd Bowles’ eventual decision to elevate Irving was driven by White’s poor running efficiency and costly turnovers, which created the opportunity for Irving to become the primary back.
From Week 6 through Week 18, Irving’s fantasy production jumped to an average of 16.9 points per game, which climbed to 18.3 points following the Buccaneers’ Week 11 bye. Excluding his early exit with an injury in Week 14 that limited him to 2.8 points, his average would have been an impressive 20.9 points per game during that stretch.
Volume and Efficiency: A Balancing Act for Irving
While volume remains critical in assessing fantasy running backs, Irving’s situation last season was unique. He accounted for just under half (49.6%) of the team’s opportunity share among running backs. However, Irving’s efficiency stood out: he averaged 6.0 yards per touch, ranking fifth in the <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/”>NFL, and had a 29.5% rate of evading tackles per touch, the third-highest in the league. Although efficiency can fluctuate from year to year for running backs, these metrics offer encouraging signs for fantasy owners.
The Buccaneers also benefit from a strong run-blocking offensive line, which ranks seventh in the NFL by allowing 1.04 adjusted yards before contact per rush. This solid front should enable Irving to maintain high efficiency as he handles the bulk of rushing duties. Additionally, Tampa Bay’s weak defense combined with a competitive division points toward offensive shootouts that could further boost Irving’s scoring opportunities.
Draft Position and Managerial Strategies for 2024
Given his breakout second half last season and clear lead-back role, Irving is currently being drafted as an RB9 on average, frequently going in the second round of fantasy drafts. He is highly ranked by many analysts, including the projection that places him as a top-10 running back overall. This has led to Irving becoming a target in the early rounds of many drafts.
For fantasy managers aiming to capitalize on his potential, securing Irving may require an early pick, as he does not often slip beyond the second round. Despite this, the growing consensus is to aggressively pursue Irving given his proven production trajectory and opportunity to lead an offense primed for high scoring.