Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Aaron Jones vs Bucky IrvingWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Aaron Jones's 8.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy play this season.

Bucky Irving is the better play on a neutral week. 12.3 PPG with 865 yards gives a reliable baseline. Aaron Jones at 8.7 PPG is not far behind and could win specific weeks where matchup and game script align. Draft Bucky Irving higher, but do not fade Aaron Jones entirely.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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RBMinnesota Vikings#34

Aaron Jones

PPG

8.7

Games

Rush Yds

548

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

199

Bye

Week 6

RBTampa Bay Buccaneers#19PPG LEADER

Bucky Irving

PPG

12.3

Games

Rush Yds

588

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

277

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Aaron Jones

Bucky Irving

Head to Head

8.7 PPG12.3 PPG

12 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Aaron Jones: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #34 at the position). Bucky Irving: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Aaron Jones is producing at 40% of elite pace and Bucky Irving at 56%. That ranking gap means Bucky Irving carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Aaron Jones vs Bucky Irving: The Full Breakdown

If you are choosing between Aaron Jones and Bucky Irving for your lineup, you are not alone. Aaron Jones finished the 2025 season at 8.7 PPG for the Minnesota Vikings (12 games), and Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10 games).

That 3.6-point weekly advantage for Bucky Irving is meaningful but not automatic. Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport, and the answer to "who should I start" often changes based on opponent, recent form, and game environment. Season averages set the baseline; weekly context makes the call.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Aaron Jones ran for 548 yards and 2 touchdowns; Bucky Irving posted 588 and 1. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Aaron Jones has his bye in Week 6, and Bucky Irving rests in Week 10. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Bucky Irving is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Aaron Jones is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Aaron Jones (age 31, 8 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Bucky Irving (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Bucky Irving outscored Aaron Jones by a projected 61 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Aaron Jones played 12 games in 2025 compared to Bucky Irving's 10. That durability gap means Aaron Jones contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Bucky Irving scored 4 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.4 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Bucky Irving is 8 years younger than Aaron Jones (23 vs 31), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Aaron Jones vs Bucky Irving: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Aaron Jones	Bucky Irving
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.7	12.3
Games Played	12	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	104	123
Rushing Yards	548	588
Rush Yds/Game	45.7	58.8
Rushing TDs	2	1
Receptions	28	30
Receiving Yards	199	277
Targets	41	35
Total TDs	3	4
Age	31	23
Experience	8 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 10

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Bucky Irving at 12.3 PPG, 3.6 points per game above Aaron Jones's 8.7. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Aaron Jones or Bucky Irving in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bucky Irving has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Aaron Jones's 8.7 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Aaron Jones and Bucky Irving average in 2025?▾

Aaron Jones averaged 8.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 3.6 points per game.

When are Aaron Jones and Bucky Irving's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Aaron Jones (MIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Bucky Irving (TB) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Aaron Jones or Bucky Irving a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving outscored Aaron Jones by 3.6 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.