On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are facing the Denver Broncos. Bucs running back Rachaad White has missed multiple practices this week due to a groin injury. Will White be available in Week 3? And what is his fantasy outlook against the Broncos? Let’s take a look.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Start/Sit Analysis, Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!
Rachaad White’s Status for Week 3 vs. Broncos
During the Bucs’ upset victory over the Detroit Lions in Week 3, White briefly left the game due to a groin injury. However, he reentered the game, which was a positive sign.
While White was only a limited participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, he was a full participant on Friday. Despite being banged up, he’s expected to start against Denver.
White finished Week 2 with 10 carries for 18 yards plus one reception for 5 yards. During the Bucs’ Week 1 victory over the Washington Commanders, White had just 31 rushing yards on 15 carries, but he made up for it with 75 receiving yards on six receptions.
On the season, he’s averaging just 2.0 yards per carry, rushing for 49 yards on 25 attempts. Should you put White in your starting lineup in Week 3, and what is rookie Bucky Irving’s fantasy outlook against the Broncos?
Should You Start Rachaad White or Bucky Irving This Week?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say that White is the player to start. His projected 12.8 points include 45 rushing yards, four receptions, and 26 receiving yards.
That stat line narrowly outperforms the consensus for Irving (8.2 points, 41 rush yards, one reception, 13 receiving yards).
My ranking of these two Buccaneers running backs aligns with the consensus. Although White has been a disappointment to start the season, he is still likely to see more time on the field than Irving, and thus come up with more opportunities to succeed this week.
Rachaad White’s Week 3 Fantasy Outlook
White followed up a somewhat disappointing performance in Week 1 — 31 rush yards, 2.1 yards per carry — with an absolutely dreadful effort last week — 23 scrimmage yards on 11 touches.
So why should fantasy managers stick with White, at least when choosing between White and Irving? Well, the alternative (Irving) didn’t exactly distinguish himself last week vs. the Detroit Lions.
MORE: Fantasy News Tracker
He is averaging less than two yards a carry (1.96), which is the lowest yards per carry average this season among 25 players who have at least 26 rush attempts. He has arguably been the worst runner from the running back position this season.
Where White continues to provide value for fantasy managers is in the receiving game. White did not provide much in the receiving department last week, catching just one pass for five yards. But in the season opener, White was terrific, with 75 receiving yards on six receptions.
In fact, although it’s a small sample, White has yet to drop a pass, catching all seven pass attempts that were targeted for him.
White was limited earlier in the week because of a groin injury, but he had a full practice on Friday and does not have an injury designation for Sunday’s game status, so expect to see White in the lineup.
Bucky Irving’s Week 3 Fantasy Outlook
Irving does have some appeal here. For one, he has been far and away the best rookie running back, in terms of yards, so far this season (84 rush yards). He also leads all rookie running backs in yards per carry (5.3).
However, there hasn’t been much to show for it in fantasy scoring. He had a decent effort in Week 1, finishing with 9.6 fantasy points against the Washington Commanders. However, last week Irving had a disappearing act in fantasy, rushing for just 22 yards (3.1 yards per carry) and compiling all of 2.2 fantasy points against the Detroit Lions.
And he has only been on the field for a total of 37 offensive snaps in two games, never being on the field for more than 35% of the Buccaneers’ offensive plays this season.
While White clearly must improve, or Irving could definitely get a more serious look on the field, I do not think this weekend is that time.