Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Bucky Irving vs Jake FergusonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Jake Ferguson's 8.7 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. Jake Ferguson (8.7 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

TEDallas Cowboys#14

Jake Ferguson

PPG

8.7

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

600

Rec TDs

Targets

102

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Bucky Irving

Jake Ferguson

Head to Head

12.3 PPG8.7 PPG

10 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Bucky Irving: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). Jake Ferguson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #14 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 3 (Flex/Starter) TE in most league formats.

Bucky Irving vs Jake Ferguson: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Bucky Irving (RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) against Jake Ferguson (TE, Dallas Cowboys) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 PPG in 2025 over 10 games, while Jake Ferguson posted 8.7 PPG across 17 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, Jake Ferguson in Week 14. 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. Jake Ferguson is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Bucky Irving (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. Jake Ferguson (age 27) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Bucky Irving outscored Jake Ferguson by a projected 61 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jake Ferguson played 17 games in 2025 compared to Bucky Irving's 10. That durability gap means Jake Ferguson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Jake Ferguson scored 8 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Jake Ferguson caught 82 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Bucky Irving is 4 years younger than Jake Ferguson (23 vs 27), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Bucky Irving vs Jake Ferguson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Bucky Irving	Jake Ferguson
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.3	8.7
Games Played	10	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	123	148
Rushing Yards	588	1
Rush Yds/Game	58.8	0.1
Rushing TDs	1	0
Receptions	30	82
Receiving Yards	277	600
Targets	35	102
Total TDs	4	8
Age	23	27
Experience	1 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 14

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Bucky Irving at 12.3 PPG, 3.6 points per game above Jake Ferguson's 8.7. 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 Bucky Irving or Jake Ferguson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bucky Irving has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Jake Ferguson's 8.7 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 Jake Ferguson average in 2025?▾

Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Jake Ferguson averaged 8.7 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 3.6 points per game.

When are Bucky Irving and Jake Ferguson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving (TB) has a bye in Week 10, and Jake Ferguson (DAL) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.