Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Bucky Irving vs Jaleel McLaughlinWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Jaleel McLaughlin's 6.9 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. Jaleel McLaughlin (6.9 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Bucky Irving as the starter and Jaleel McLaughlin 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

RBDenver Broncos#99

Jaleel McLaughlin

PPG

6.9

Games

Rush Yds

382

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

168

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Bucky Irving

Jaleel McLaughlin

Head to Head

12.3 PPG6.9 PPG

10 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Bucky Irving: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). Jaleel McLaughlin: 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 Jaleel McLaughlin at 31%. That ranking gap means Bucky Irving carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Bucky Irving vs Jaleel McLaughlin: The Full Breakdown

Bucky Irving and Jaleel McLaughlin are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 PPG across 10 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Jaleel McLaughlin posted 6.9 PPG in 15 appearances for the Denver Broncos.

A 5.4-PPG gap gives Bucky Irving the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Bucky Irving ran for 588 yards and 1 touchdowns; Jaleel McLaughlin posted 382 and 2. 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 Jaleel McLaughlin is off Week 14. 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. Jaleel McLaughlin 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. Jaleel McLaughlin (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Bucky Irving outscored Jaleel McLaughlin by a projected 92 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Jaleel McLaughlin played 15 games in 2025 compared to Bucky Irving's 10. That durability gap means Jaleel McLaughlin 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Bucky Irving vs Jaleel McLaughlin: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Bucky Irving	Jaleel McLaughlin
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.3	6.9
Games Played	10	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	123	104
Rushing Yards	588	382
Rush Yds/Game	58.8	25.5
Rushing TDs	1	2
Receptions	30	22
Receiving Yards	277	168
Targets	35	0
Total TDs	4	3
Age	23	-
Experience	1 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 14

Summary

Bucky Irving outscored Jaleel McLaughlin by 5.4 PPG in 2025 (12.3 to 6.9). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Bucky Irving or Jaleel McLaughlin in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bucky Irving has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Jaleel McLaughlin's 6.9 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 Bucky Irving and Jaleel McLaughlin average in 2025?▾

Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Jaleel McLaughlin averaged 6.9 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 5.4 points per game.

When are Bucky Irving and Jaleel McLaughlin's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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

Is Bucky Irving or Jaleel McLaughlin a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving outscored Jaleel McLaughlin by 5.4 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.