Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Audric Estimé vs Bucky IrvingWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Audric Estimé's 8.4 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy play this season.

Bucky Irving has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.9-PPG advantage is real (12.3 to 8.4), and Bucky Irving's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Audric Estimé is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

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RBNew Orleans Saints#35

Audric Estimé

PPG

8.4

Games

Rush Yds

198

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

103

Bye

Week 8

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

Audric Estimé

Bucky Irving

Head to Head

8.4 PPG12.3 PPG

5 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Audric Estimé: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #35 at the position). Bucky Irving: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Audric Estimé is producing at 38% 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.

Audric Estimé vs Bucky Irving: The Full Breakdown

Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Audric Estimé (New Orleans Saints) finished the 2025 season averaging 8.4 fantasy points per game in 5 games. Bucky Irving (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) came in at 12.3 PPG over 10 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Bucky Irving carries a 3.9-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. Audric Estimé ran for 198 yards and 1 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.

Audric Estimé has his bye in Week 8, 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

If you can acquire Bucky Irving at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Audric Estimé is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Audric Estimé (age 22) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. Bucky Irving (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Bucky Irving outscored Audric Estimé by a projected 66 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Bucky Irving played 10 games in 2025 compared to Audric Estimé's 5. That durability gap means Bucky Irving 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Audric Estimé vs Bucky Irving: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Audric Estimé	Bucky Irving
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.4	12.3
Games Played	5	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	42	123
Rushing Yards	198	588
Rush Yds/Game	39.6	58.8
Rushing TDs	1	1
Receptions	12	30
Receiving Yards	103	277
Targets	13	35
Total TDs	1	4
Age	22	23
Experience	1 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Bucky Irving holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.3 points per game. Audric Estimé averaged 8.4 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 Audric Estimé or Bucky Irving in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bucky Irving has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Audric Estimé's 8.4 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 Audric Estimé and Bucky Irving average in 2025?▾

Audric Estimé averaged 8.4 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 5 games in 2025. Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 PPG over 10 games. That is a difference of 3.9 points per game.

When are Audric Estimé and Bucky Irving's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Audric Estimé (NO) has a bye in Week 8, and Bucky Irving (TB) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Audric Estimé or Bucky Irving a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving outscored Audric Estimé by 3.9 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.