With Bucky Irving sidelined week-to-week due to a foot sprain, fantasy football managers are left scrambling to figure out how Tampa Bay’s backfield will shake out. While Rachaad White looks poised to step into a larger share of touches and maintain a strong role in the passing game, Sean Tucker suddenly enters the conversation as a potential flex option. The question now is: who should you trust in your lineup while Irving recovers?
Who Do You Start With Bucky Irving Injury?
The Bucs have no shortage of running backs on their roster. Irving has been the RB1 since he overtook the role from Rachaad White late last season. White remains in the RB2 role with Sean Tucker as the RB3.
White spent September as a secondary back to Bucky Irving, one that would get on the field on occasion, but not of any real interest to us.
I still expect that to be the case down the stretch of the season, but with Irving labeled as “week-to-week” with a foot sprain, White vaults into the RB2 conversation for the short term.
We’ve seen him be a productive weapon in the passing game, and that’s a reliable trait, but the rushing metrics have looked great in his limited work this season.
His gain rate sits at 91.3% in 2022, well above the worst showing of his career in 2021 (79.9%), and something that could earn him close to a 50/50 carry split with Sean Tucker in addition to dominating the route-running role.
MORE: Should Fantasy Managers Start Sean Tucker, Michael Carter, and Rico Dowdle?
This isn’t a great matchup, and there isn’t a strong spot until Week 8, but Irving’s role lands him in my top 20 this week, and that’ll be the case as long as Irving is on the shelf.
Tucker has just one touch this season for a reason, but he’s now a must-add with Irving (foot sprain) out for at least one week and potentially more.
White has excelled in the passing game in the past and will likely still dominate the usage from a routes perspective, but the two-down work could be split pretty evenly, and that at least puts Tucker on the flex radar given the potency of this offense.
At the very least, he’s someone that should be rostered in every league.
Running Back Rankings Week 5
1) Christian McCaffrey | San Francisco 49ers (at LAR)
2) Jahmyr Gibbs | Detroit Lions (at CIN)
3) Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis Colts (vs. LV)
4) James Cook | Buffalo Bills (vs. NE)
5) De’Von Achane | Miami Dolphins (at CAR)
6) Saquon Barkley | Philadelphia Eagles (vs. DEN)
7) Derrick Henry | Baltimore Ravens (vs. HOU)
8) Omarion Hampton | Los Angeles Chargers (vs. WAS)
9) Ashton Jeanty | Las Vegas Raiders (at IND)
10) Quinshon Judkins | Cleveland Browns (vs. MIN (London))
11) Cam Skattebo | New York Giants (at NO)
12) Javonte Williams | Dallas Cowboys (at NYJ)
13) Breece Hall | New York Jets (vs. DAL)
14) Kyren Williams | Los Angeles Rams (vs. SF)
15) Jordan Mason | Minnesota Vikings (vs. CLE (London))
16) Kenneth Walker III | Seattle Seahawks (vs. TB)
17) J.K. Dobbins | Denver Broncos (at PHI)
18) Travis Etienne Jr. | Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. KC)
19) Alvin Kamara | New Orleans Saints (vs. NYG)
20) Chase Brown | Cincinnati Bengals (vs. DET)
21) Rico Dowdle | Carolina Panthers (vs. MIA)
22) Tony Pollard | Tennessee Titans (at ARI)
23) David Montgomery | Detroit Lions (at CIN)
24) Rachaad White | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at SEA)
25) Woody Marks | Houston Texans (at BAL)
26) Rhamondre Stevenson | New England Patriots (at BUF)
27) TreVeyon Henderson | New England Patriots (at BUF)
28) Michael Carter | Arizona Cardinals (vs. TEN)
29) Sean Tucker | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at SEA)
30) Isiah Pacheco | Kansas City Chiefs (at JAX)