Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Bucky Irving vs Darren WallerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Darren Waller's 9.6 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. Darren Waller (9.6 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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RBTampa Bay Buccaneers#19PPG LEADER

Bucky Irving

PPG

12.3

Games

Rush Yds

588

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

277

Bye

Week 10

TEMiami Dolphins#8

Darren Waller

PPG

9.6

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

283

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Bucky Irving

Darren Waller

Head to Head

12.3 PPG9.6 PPG

10 GP8 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Bucky Irving: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). Darren Waller: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE (ranked #8 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 2 (Strong Starter) TE in most league formats.

Bucky Irving vs Darren Waller: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Bucky Irving (RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) against Darren Waller (TE, Miami Dolphins) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 PPG in 2025 over 10 games, while Darren Waller posted 9.6 PPG across 8 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.

Bucky Irving has his bye in Week 10, Darren Waller in Week 6. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Bucky Irving (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. Darren Waller (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Bucky Irving outscored Darren Waller by a projected 46 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Bucky Irving played 10 games in 2025 compared to Darren Waller's 8. That durability gap means Bucky Irving contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Darren Waller scored 6 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Bucky Irving is 10 years younger than Darren Waller (23 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Bucky Irving vs Darren Waller: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Bucky Irving	Darren Waller
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.3	9.6
Games Played	10	8
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	123	77
Rushing Yards	588	4
Rush Yds/Game	58.8	0.5
Rushing TDs	1	0
Receptions	30	24
Receiving Yards	277	283
Targets	35	34
Total TDs	4	6
Age	23	33
Experience	1 yrs	10 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 6

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Bucky Irving holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.3 points per game. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 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 Bucky Irving or Darren Waller in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bucky Irving has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Darren Waller's 9.6 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 Bucky Irving and Darren Waller average in 2025?▾

Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Darren Waller averaged 9.6 PPG over 8 games. That is a difference of 2.7 points per game.

When are Bucky Irving and Darren Waller's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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