Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Bucky Irving vs T.J. HockensonWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to T.J. Hockenson's 5.8 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. T.J. Hockenson (5.8 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

TEMinnesota Vikings#30

T.J. Hockenson

PPG

5.8

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

438

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Bucky Irving

T.J. Hockenson

Head to Head

12.3 PPG5.8 PPG

10 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Bucky Irving: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). T.J. Hockenson: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #30 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 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE in most league formats.

Bucky Irving vs T.J. Hockenson: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Bucky Irving (RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) against T.J. Hockenson (TE, Minnesota Vikings) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 PPG in 2025 over 10 games, while T.J. Hockenson posted 5.8 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, T.J. Hockenson in Week 6. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Bucky Irving is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. T.J. Hockenson is a hold unless you can flip him for a positional upgrade elsewhere on your roster. Dynasty outlook: Bucky Irving (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. T.J. Hockenson (age 28) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Bucky Irving outscored T.J. Hockenson by a projected 111 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•T.J. Hockenson played 15 games in 2025 compared to Bucky Irving's 10. That durability gap means T.J. Hockenson 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.
•T.J. Hockenson caught 51 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Bucky Irving is 5 years younger than T.J. Hockenson (23 vs 28), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Bucky Irving vs T.J. Hockenson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Bucky Irving	T.J. Hockenson
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.3	5.8
Games Played	10	15
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	123	87
Rushing Yards	588	0
Rush Yds/Game	58.8	0.0
Rushing TDs	1	0
Receptions	30	51
Receiving Yards	277	438
Targets	35	66
Total TDs	4	3
Age	23	28
Experience	1 yrs	6 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 6

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Bucky Irving at 12.3 PPG, 6.5 points per game above T.J. Hockenson's 5.8. But season stats only tell part of the story. DraftCall's AI factors in weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status to give you a verdict that updates with the latest data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Bucky Irving or T.J. Hockenson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bucky Irving has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to T.J. Hockenson's 5.8 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 T.J. Hockenson average in 2025?▾

Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. T.J. Hockenson averaged 5.8 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 6.5 points per game.

When are Bucky Irving and T.J. Hockenson's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving (TB) has a bye in Week 10, and T.J. Hockenson (MIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.