Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Bucky Irving vs Kyle MonangaiWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Kyle Monangai's 8.1 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 4.2-PPG advantage is real (12.3 to 8.1), and Bucky Irving's 4 touchdowns show scoring upside. Kyle Monangai 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

RBChicago Bears#38

Kyle Monangai

PPG

8.1

Games

Rush Yds

783

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

164

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Bucky Irving

Kyle Monangai

Head to Head

12.3 PPG8.1 PPG

10 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Bucky Irving: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). Kyle Monangai: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #38 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Bucky Irving is producing at 56% of elite pace and Kyle Monangai at 37%. That ranking gap means Bucky Irving carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Bucky Irving vs Kyle Monangai: The Full Breakdown

Bucky Irving and Kyle Monangai 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 Kyle Monangai posted 8.1 PPG in 17 appearances for the Chicago Bears.

A 4.2-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; Kyle Monangai posted 783 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 thing to note: both players share a Week 10 bye. That means you need a backup plan at running back for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Bucky Irving at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Kyle Monangai 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. Kyle Monangai (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Bucky Irving outscored Kyle Monangai by a projected 71 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kyle Monangai played 17 games in 2025 compared to Bucky Irving's 10. That durability gap means Kyle Monangai contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Kyle Monangai scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Both players share a Week 10 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Bucky Irving vs Kyle Monangai: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Bucky Irving	Kyle Monangai
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.3	8.1
Games Played	10	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	123	138
Rushing Yards	588	783
Rush Yds/Game	58.8	46.1
Rushing TDs	1	5
Receptions	30	18
Receiving Yards	277	164
Targets	35	30
Total TDs	4	5
Age	23	23
Experience	1 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 10

Summary

Bucky Irving outscored Kyle Monangai by 4.2 PPG in 2025 (12.3 to 8.1). 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 Kyle Monangai in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bucky Irving has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Kyle Monangai's 8.1 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 Kyle Monangai average in 2025?▾

Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Kyle Monangai averaged 8.1 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 4.2 points per game.

Do Bucky Irving and Kyle Monangai share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Bucky Irving and Kyle Monangai share a Week 10 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at running back for that week.

Is Bucky Irving or Kyle Monangai a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving outscored Kyle Monangai by 4.2 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.