Bucky Irving vs Kenneth Walker: Who Should You Start?
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. Kenneth Walker (Kansas City Chiefs) came in at 10.4 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.
Bucky Irving carries a 1.9-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; Kenneth Walker posted 1027 and 5. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.
One scheduling note: Bucky Irving is off Week 11 and Kenneth Walker Week 6. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in running back for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.
