Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Brenton Strange vs Bucky IrvingWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Brenton Strange's 7.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Bucky Irving (12.3 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Brenton Strange (7.9 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

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

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TEJacksonville Jaguars#19

Brenton Strange

PPG

7.9

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

540

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 7

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

Brenton Strange

Bucky Irving

Head to Head

7.9 PPG12.3 PPG

12 GP10 GP

Bye: Week 7Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Brenton Strange: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #19 at the position). Bucky Irving: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB in most league formats.

Brenton Strange vs Bucky Irving: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Brenton Strange (TE, Jacksonville Jaguars) against Bucky Irving (RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Brenton Strange averaged 7.9 PPG in 2025 over 12 games, while Bucky Irving posted 12.3 PPG across 10 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Brenton Strange has his bye in Week 7, Bucky Irving in Week 10. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Bucky Irving is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Brenton Strange is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Brenton Strange (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset. Bucky Irving (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Bucky Irving outscored Brenton Strange by a projected 75 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Brenton Strange played 12 games in 2025 compared to Bucky Irving's 10. That durability gap means Brenton Strange 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.
•Brenton Strange saw 60 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Brenton Strange vs Bucky Irving: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Brenton Strange	Bucky Irving
PPG (Half-PPR)	7.9	12.3
Games Played	12	10
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	95	123
Rushing Yards	0	588
Rush Yds/Game	0.0	58.8
Rushing TDs	0	1
Receptions	46	30
Receiving Yards	540	277
Targets	60	35
Total TDs	3	4
Age	25	23
Experience	2 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 7	Week 10

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Bucky Irving at 12.3 PPG, 4.4 points per game above Brenton Strange's 7.9. 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 Brenton Strange or Bucky Irving in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bucky Irving has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Brenton Strange's 7.9 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 Brenton Strange and Bucky Irving average in 2025?▾

Brenton Strange averaged 7.9 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 4.4 points per game.

When are Brenton Strange and Bucky Irving's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Brenton Strange (JAX) has a bye in Week 7, and Bucky Irving (TB) has a bye in Week 10. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.