Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Bucky Irving vs Theo JohnsonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Theo Johnson's 7.0 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Bucky Irving (12.3 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Theo Johnson (7.0 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

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

TENew York Giants#24

Theo Johnson

PPG

7.0

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

528

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Bucky Irving

Theo Johnson

Head to Head

12.3 PPG7.0 PPG

10 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Bucky Irving: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). Theo Johnson: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE (ranked #24 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) TE in most league formats.

Bucky Irving vs Theo Johnson: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Bucky Irving (RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) against Theo Johnson (TE, New York Giants) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 PPG in 2025 over 10 games, while Theo Johnson posted 7.0 PPG across 15 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

Bucky Irving has his bye in Week 10, Theo Johnson in Week 8. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Bucky Irving at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Theo Johnson 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. Theo Johnson (age 25) has years of prime production ahead. Buy-and-hold dynasty asset.

Did You Know?

•Bucky Irving outscored Theo Johnson by a projected 90 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Theo Johnson played 15 games in 2025 compared to Bucky Irving's 10. That durability gap means Theo Johnson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Theo Johnson scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Theo Johnson caught 45 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 Theo Johnson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Bucky Irving	Theo Johnson
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.3	7.0
Games Played	10	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	123	105
Rushing Yards	588	0
Rush Yds/Game	58.8	0.0
Rushing TDs	1	0
Receptions	30	45
Receiving Yards	277	528
Targets	35	74
Total TDs	4	5
Age	23	25
Experience	1 yrs	1 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 8

Summary

Bucky Irving outscored Theo Johnson by 5.3 PPG in 2025 (12.3 to 7.0). 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 Theo Johnson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bucky Irving has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Theo Johnson's 7.0 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 Theo Johnson average in 2025?▾

Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Theo Johnson averaged 7.0 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 5.3 points per game.

When are Bucky Irving and Theo Johnson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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