Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Bucky Irving vs Khalil HerbertWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Khalil Herbert's 5.8 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. Khalil Herbert (5.8 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Bucky Irving as the starter and Khalil Herbert 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

RBCincinnati Bengals#99

Khalil Herbert

PPG

5.8

Games

Rush Yds

248

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

Bucky Irving

Khalil Herbert

Head to Head

12.3 PPG5.8 PPG

10 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Bucky Irving: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). Khalil Herbert: 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 Khalil Herbert at 26%. That ranking gap means Bucky Irving carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Bucky Irving vs Khalil Herbert: The Full Breakdown

There is a real production gap between these two running backs. Bucky Irving (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) averaged 12.3 PPG over 10 games in 2025, outscoring Khalil Herbert (Cincinnati Bengals, 5.8 PPG) by 6.5 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

A 6.5-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; Khalil Herbert posted 248 and 2. 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 10 and Khalil Herbert Week 12. 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.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Bucky Irving at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Khalil Herbert 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. Khalil Herbert (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Bucky Irving outscored Khalil Herbert by a projected 111 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Khalil Herbert played 12 games in 2025 compared to Bucky Irving's 10. That durability gap means Khalil Herbert 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 Khalil Herbert: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Bucky Irving	Khalil Herbert
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.3	5.8
Games Played	10	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	123	70
Rushing Yards	588	248
Rush Yds/Game	58.8	20.7
Rushing TDs	1	2
Receptions	30	12
Receiving Yards	277	85
Targets	35	0
Total TDs	4	2
Age	23	-
Experience	1 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 12

Summary

Bucky Irving outscored Khalil Herbert by 6.5 PPG in 2025 (12.3 to 5.8). 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 Khalil Herbert in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bucky Irving has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Khalil Herbert's 5.8 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 Khalil Herbert average in 2025?▾

Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Khalil Herbert averaged 5.8 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 6.5 points per game.

When are Bucky Irving and Khalil Herbert's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving (TB) has a bye in Week 10, and Khalil Herbert (CIN) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Bucky Irving or Khalil Herbert a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving outscored Khalil Herbert by 6.5 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.