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Updated September 8, 2026 from live stats

Alexander Mattison or Bucky IrvingWho should you draft or start in 2026 fantasy football?

DraftCall Analytics

Start Bucky Irving over Alexander Mattison in 2026.

Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 PPG in 2025 to Alexander Mattison's 5.3, a 7.0 point per game edge. Irving posted that edge in only 10 games, so the per-game ceiling is real but watch his availability.

The Bottom Line

Bucky Irving is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 12.3 PPG and 865 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Alexander Mattison (5.3 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Bucky Irving as the starter and Alexander Mattison as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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RBLas Vegas Raiders

Alexander Mattison

PPG

5.3

Games

Rush Yds

255

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 10

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

Alexander Mattison

Bucky Irving

Head to Head

5.3 PPG12.3 PPG

14 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Alexander Mattison: Unranked RB. Bucky Irving: Tier 5 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Alexander Mattison is producing at 24% of elite pace and Bucky Irving at 56%. That per-game gap means Bucky Irving carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Alexander Mattison vs Bucky Irving: The Full Breakdown

Bucky Irving and Alexander Mattison are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back averaged 12.3 PPG in 2025, a full 7.0 points per game ahead of Alexander Mattison's 5.3 with the Las Vegas Raiders. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

Bucky Irving carries a 7.0-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Alexander Mattison ran for 255 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.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 10 bye. That means you need a backup plan at running back for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Bucky Irving at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Alexander Mattison is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Alexander Mattison (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Bucky Irving (age 24) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Bucky Irving outscored Alexander Mattison by a projected 119 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Alexander Mattison played 14 games in 2025 compared to Bucky Irving's 10. That durability gap means Alexander Mattison 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.
•Both players share a Week 10 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Alexander Mattison vs Bucky Irving: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Alexander Mattison	Bucky Irving
PPG (Half-PPR)	5.3	12.3
Games Played	14	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	74	123
Rushing Yards	255	588
Rush Yds/Game	18.2	58.8
Rushing TDs	2	1
Receptions	14	30
Receiving Yards	95	277
Targets	0	35
Total TDs	2	4
Age	-	24
Experience	-	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Bucky Irving holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.3 points per game. Alexander Mattison averaged 5.3 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Alexander Mattison or Bucky Irving in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bucky Irving has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Alexander Mattison's 5.3 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.

Should I draft Alexander Mattison or Bucky Irving in 2026 fantasy football?▾

Bucky Irving is the earlier pick. He averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game in 2025 to Alexander Mattison's 5.3, a 7.0 point per game edge over a full season. Positional rank, fantasy tier, and bye week are broken down below.

How many fantasy points did Alexander Mattison and Bucky Irving average in 2025?▾

Alexander Mattison averaged 5.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 14 games in 2025. Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 7.0 points per game.

Do Alexander Mattison and Bucky Irving share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Alexander Mattison and Bucky Irving share a Week 10 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at running back for that week.

Is Alexander Mattison or Bucky Irving a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving outscored Alexander Mattison by 7.0 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.