Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Bucky Irving vs Kyren WilliamsWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Kyren Williams is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.4 PPG to Bucky Irving's 12.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Kyren Williams is the better fantasy play this season.

Kyren Williams has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.1-PPG advantage is real (14.4 to 12.3), and Kyren Williams's 13 touchdowns show scoring upside. Bucky Irving 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#19

Bucky Irving

PPG

12.3

Games

Rush Yds

588

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

277

Bye

Week 10

RBLos Angeles Rams#11PPG LEADER

Kyren Williams

PPG

14.4

Games

Rush Yds

1,252

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

281

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Bucky Irving

Kyren Williams

Head to Head

12.3 PPG14.4 PPG

10 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Bucky Irving: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). Kyren Williams: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #11 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Bucky Irving is producing at 56% of elite pace and Kyren Williams at 65%. That ranking gap means Kyren Williams carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Bucky Irving vs Kyren Williams: The Full Breakdown

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. Kyren Williams (Los Angeles Rams) came in at 14.4 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Kyren Williams carries a 2.1-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; Kyren Williams posted 1252 and 10. 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 Kyren Williams Week 11. 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

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Bucky Irving (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. Kyren Williams (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Kyren Williams outscored Bucky Irving by a projected 36 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kyren Williams played 17 games in 2025 compared to Bucky Irving's 10. That durability gap means Kyren Williams contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Kyren Williams scored 13 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Kyren Williams caught 36 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Bucky Irving vs Kyren Williams: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Bucky Irving	Kyren Williams
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.3	14.4
Games Played	10	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	123	245
Rushing Yards	588	1,252
Rush Yds/Game	58.8	73.6
Rushing TDs	1	10
Receptions	30	36
Receiving Yards	277	281
Targets	35	50
Total TDs	4	13
Age	23	25
Experience	1 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 11

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Kyren Williams holds the PPG edge with solid output at 14.4 points per game. Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Bucky Irving or Kyren Williams in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kyren Williams has the edge at 14.4 PPG compared to Bucky Irving's 12.3 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 Kyren Williams average in 2025?▾

Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Kyren Williams averaged 14.4 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.1 points per game.

When are Bucky Irving and Kyren Williams's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving (TB) has a bye in Week 10, and Kyren Williams (LAR) has a bye in Week 11. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Bucky Irving or Kyren Williams a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Kyren Williams outscored Bucky Irving by 2.1 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.