Rachaad White looked like the clear starter in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers backfield entering the 2024 season. But after four games, it’s apparent that rookie Bucky Irving has stolen the show and cut into White’s share of the carries.
So should White managers be looking to move off of him or hold on and hope for better days? Using the Pro Football Network Trade Analyzer, we take a look at what kind of value fantasy managers can expect for the Bucs’ running back.
Should Fantasy Football Managers Trade Rachaad White?
White owns a catastrophic 2.8 yards-per-carry average, last among 53 qualifying rushers this season. In contrast, Irving has produced 5.8 yards per rush, sixth-best in the NFL.
The Bucs seem to have recognized this trend as well, with Irving setting season highs in both rush attempts (10) and snap share (40.5%) this past Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The most concerning aspect for White’s fantasy managers is that Irving has seemingly usurped him as the goal-line back. In Week 4, Irving received all four carries from the 10-yard line or closer, more than White has received all season (three). Prior to the Eagles’ game, Irving did not have any goal-line carries.
Bucky Irving's first TD!
📺: #PHIvsTB on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/4Fiwvb3sHT— NFL (@NFL) September 29, 2024
The problem for White is that he hasn’t proved he deserves those valuable touches. Since the start of 2023, he’s had 16 carries from between the 3- and 10-yard line (not quite pure goal-line territory, but high-potential scoring opportunities nonetheless) and has scored on only one of them.
With Irving and White each receiving 10 rushing attempts in Week 4, it’s not clear who the lead back is in Tampa Bay. But based on performance to date, things are trending towards the rookie.
What Should Fantasy Managers Look To Acquire When Trading White?
PFN’s Trade Analyzer projects that a player like Chuba Hubbard would provide roughly equal value to White. That may be tough to pull off since Hubbard holds the higher value until rookie Jonathon Brooks debuts, so a challenging trade for another struggling back, such as D’Andre Swift, or an injured player like Isiah Pacheco, might be a wiser path.
The good news for White managers is that he’s coming off his best game of the season. His 49 rushing yards and 4.9 yards per rush were both season-bests. In addition, he still holds meaningful PPR value, as his 133 receiving yards rank seventh among running backs.
White managers shouldn’t move him no matter what, but it would likely behoove them to look for a trade partner to protect against the real possibility of Irving becoming a bell-cow back in the second half of the season.
All stats are from TruMedia unless otherwise stated.