With Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White struggling to begin this season, is the time right for fantasy managers to give rookie Bucky Irving a shot over White in Week 3?
Let’s take a look at the fantasy outlook for each player heading into Sunday’s matchup with the Denver 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.
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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.