Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Bucky Irving vs Kimani VidalWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Kimani Vidal's 9.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy play this season.

Bucky Irving has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 3.1-PPG advantage is real (12.3 to 9.2), and Bucky Irving's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Kimani Vidal is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

RBLos Angeles Chargers#32

Kimani Vidal

PPG

9.2

Games

Rush Yds

643

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

136

Bye

Week 7

The Edge Chart

Bucky Irving

Kimani Vidal

Head to Head

12.3 PPG9.2 PPG

10 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 7

Fantasy Tiers

Bucky Irving: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). Kimani Vidal: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #32 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Bucky Irving is producing at 56% of elite pace and Kimani Vidal at 42%. That ranking gap means Bucky Irving carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Bucky Irving vs Kimani Vidal: The Full Breakdown

Bucky Irving and Kimani Vidal 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 Kimani Vidal posted 9.2 PPG in 12 appearances for the Los Angeles Chargers.

A 3.1-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; Kimani Vidal posted 643 and 3. 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 Kimani Vidal Week 7. 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. Kimani Vidal 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. Kimani Vidal (age 24) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Bucky Irving outscored Kimani Vidal by a projected 53 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kimani Vidal played 12 games in 2025 compared to Bucky Irving's 10. That durability gap means Kimani Vidal 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 Kimani Vidal: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Bucky Irving	Kimani Vidal
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.3	9.2
Games Played	10	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	123	110
Rushing Yards	588	643
Rush Yds/Game	58.8	53.6
Rushing TDs	1	3
Receptions	30	16
Receiving Yards	277	136
Targets	35	22
Total TDs	4	4
Age	23	24
Experience	1 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 7

Summary

Bucky Irving outscored Kimani Vidal by 3.1 PPG in 2025 (12.3 to 9.2). 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 Kimani Vidal in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bucky Irving has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Kimani Vidal's 9.2 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 Kimani Vidal average in 2025?▾

Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Kimani Vidal averaged 9.2 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 3.1 points per game.

When are Bucky Irving and Kimani Vidal's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving (TB) has a bye in Week 10, and Kimani Vidal (LAC) has a bye in Week 7. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Bucky Irving or Kimani Vidal a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving outscored Kimani Vidal by 3.1 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.