Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Bucky Irving vs Dylan SampsonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Dylan Sampson's 4.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy play this season.

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. Dylan Sampson (4.7 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Bucky Irving as the starter and Dylan Sampson as depth.

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

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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

RBCleveland Browns#99

Dylan Sampson

PPG

4.7

Games

Rush Yds

175

Rec

Rec Yds

271

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Bucky Irving

Dylan Sampson

Head to Head

12.3 PPG4.7 PPG

10 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Bucky Irving: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). Dylan Sampson: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Bucky Irving is producing at 56% of elite pace and Dylan Sampson at 21%. That ranking gap means Bucky Irving carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Bucky Irving vs Dylan Sampson: The Full Breakdown

Bucky Irving and Dylan Sampson are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back averaged 12.3 PPG in 2025, a full 7.6 points per game ahead of Dylan Sampson's 4.7 with the Cleveland Browns. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

Bucky Irving carries a 7.6-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; Dylan Sampson posted 175 and undefined. 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. Dylan Sampson 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. Dylan Sampson (age 21) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Bucky Irving outscored Dylan Sampson by a projected 129 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Dylan Sampson played 15 games in 2025 compared to Bucky Irving's 10. That durability gap means Dylan Sampson 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.
•Dylan Sampson caught 33 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Both players share a Week 10 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Bucky Irving vs Dylan Sampson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Bucky Irving	Dylan Sampson
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.3	4.7
Games Played	10	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	123	71
Rushing Yards	588	175
Rush Yds/Game	58.8	11.7
Rushing TDs	1	0
Receptions	30	33
Receiving Yards	277	271
Targets	35	40
Total TDs	4	2
Age	23	21
Experience	1 yrs	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. Dylan Sampson averaged 4.7 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 Dylan Sampson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bucky Irving has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Dylan Sampson's 4.7 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 Dylan Sampson average in 2025?▾

Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Dylan Sampson averaged 4.7 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 7.6 points per game.

Do Bucky Irving and Dylan Sampson share a bye week?▾

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

Is Bucky Irving or Dylan Sampson a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving outscored Dylan Sampson by 7.6 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.