Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Bucky Irving vs Nick ChubbWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Nick Chubb's 5.5 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. Nick Chubb (5.5 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Bucky Irving as the starter and Nick Chubb 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

RBHouston Texans#59

Nick Chubb

PPG

5.5

Games

Rush Yds

506

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Bucky Irving

Nick Chubb

Head to Head

12.3 PPG5.5 PPG

10 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Bucky Irving: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). Nick Chubb: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #59 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Bucky Irving is producing at 56% of elite pace and Nick Chubb at 25%. That ranking gap means Bucky Irving carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Bucky Irving vs Nick Chubb: 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 Nick Chubb (Houston Texans, 5.5 PPG) by 6.8 points per week. That separation would need a significant matchup swing to overcome.

Bucky Irving carries a 6.8-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; Nick Chubb posted 506 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 Nick Chubb Week 8. 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. Nick Chubb 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. Nick Chubb (age 30, 7 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Bucky Irving outscored Nick Chubb by a projected 116 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Nick Chubb played 15 games in 2025 compared to Bucky Irving's 10. That durability gap means Nick Chubb 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.
•Bucky Irving is 7 years younger than Nick Chubb (23 vs 30), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Bucky Irving vs Nick Chubb: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Bucky Irving	Nick Chubb
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.3	5.5
Games Played	10	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	123	83
Rushing Yards	588	506
Rush Yds/Game	58.8	33.7
Rushing TDs	1	3
Receptions	30	13
Receiving Yards	277	67
Targets	35	20
Total TDs	4	3
Age	23	30
Experience	1 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 8

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Bucky Irving holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.3 points per game. Nick Chubb averaged 5.5 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 Nick Chubb in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bucky Irving has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Nick Chubb's 5.5 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 Nick Chubb average in 2025?▾

Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Nick Chubb averaged 5.5 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 6.8 points per game.

When are Bucky Irving and Nick Chubb's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving (TB) has a bye in Week 10, and Nick Chubb (HOU) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Bucky Irving or Nick Chubb a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving outscored Nick Chubb by 6.8 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.