Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Bucky Irving vs David MontgomeryWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to David Montgomery's 9.1 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 3.2-PPG advantage is real (12.3 to 9.1), and Bucky Irving's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. David Montgomery 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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RBTampa Bay Buccaneers#19PPG LEADER

Bucky Irving

PPG

12.3

Games

Rush Yds

588

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

277

Bye

Week 10

RBDetroit Lions#33

David Montgomery

PPG

9.1

Games

Rush Yds

716

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

192

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Bucky Irving

David Montgomery

Head to Head

12.3 PPG9.1 PPG

10 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Bucky Irving: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). David Montgomery: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #33 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Bucky Irving is producing at 56% of elite pace and David Montgomery at 41%. That ranking gap means Bucky Irving carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Bucky Irving vs David Montgomery: The Full Breakdown

Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Bucky Irving (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) finished the 2025 season averaging 12.3 fantasy points per game in 10 games. David Montgomery (Detroit Lions) came in at 9.1 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Bucky Irving carries a 3.2-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. Bucky Irving ran for 588 yards and 1 touchdowns; David Montgomery posted 716 and 8. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Bucky Irving sits Week 10 while David Montgomery is off Week 6. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Bucky Irving at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. David Montgomery is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Bucky Irving (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. David Montgomery (age 28, 6 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Bucky Irving outscored David Montgomery by a projected 54 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•David Montgomery played 17 games in 2025 compared to Bucky Irving's 10. That durability gap means David Montgomery contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•David Montgomery scored 9 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Bucky Irving is 5 years younger than David Montgomery (23 vs 28), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Bucky Irving vs David Montgomery: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Bucky Irving	David Montgomery
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.3	9.1
Games Played	10	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	123	155
Rushing Yards	588	716
Rush Yds/Game	58.8	42.1
Rushing TDs	1	8
Receptions	30	24
Receiving Yards	277	192
Targets	35	29
Total TDs	4	9
Age	23	28
Experience	1 yrs	6 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. David Montgomery averaged 9.1 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 David Montgomery in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bucky Irving has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to David Montgomery's 9.1 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 David Montgomery average in 2025?▾

Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. David Montgomery averaged 9.1 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.2 points per game.

When are Bucky Irving and David Montgomery's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Bucky Irving or David Montgomery a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving outscored David Montgomery by 3.2 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.