Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

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

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Ty Johnson's 5.2 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy play this season.

The gap here is significant. Bucky Irving outscored Ty Johnson by 7.1 PPG in 2025 with 4 total touchdowns. If both are on your board, Bucky Irving is the clear pick. Ty Johnson profiles as a matchup-dependent running back who can spike but lacks the consistent floor.

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

RBBuffalo Bills#99

Ty Johnson

PPG

5.2

Games

Rush Yds

200

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

263

Bye

Week 12

The Edge Chart

Bucky Irving

Ty Johnson

Head to Head

12.3 PPG5.2 PPG

10 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 12

Fantasy Tiers

Bucky Irving: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). Ty Johnson: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Bucky Irving is producing at 56% of elite pace and Ty Johnson at 24%. That ranking gap means Bucky Irving carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Bucky Irving vs Ty Johnson: The Full Breakdown

Bucky Irving and Ty Johnson are at different tiers heading into 2026. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back averaged 12.3 PPG in 2025, a full 7.1 points per game ahead of Ty Johnson's 5.2 with the Buffalo Bills. That kind of gap doesn't close on matchup alone.

The per-game difference of 7.1 points favors Bucky Irving, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one running back to the other.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Bucky Irving ran for 588 yards and 1 touchdowns; Ty Johnson posted 200 and 3. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Bucky Irving has his bye in Week 10, and Ty Johnson rests in Week 12. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Bucky Irving is a buy in trades where the other manager is chasing upside at a different position. Ty Johnson 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. Ty Johnson (age 28, 7 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Bucky Irving outscored Ty Johnson by a projected 121 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Ty Johnson played 17 games in 2025 compared to Bucky Irving's 10. That durability gap means Ty Johnson contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Ty Johnson scored 5 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.3 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Bucky Irving is 5 years younger than Ty Johnson (23 vs 28), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Bucky Irving vs Ty Johnson: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Bucky Irving	Ty Johnson
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.3	5.2
Games Played	10	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	123	88
Rushing Yards	588	200
Rush Yds/Game	58.8	11.8
Rushing TDs	1	3
Receptions	30	24
Receiving Yards	277	263
Targets	35	33
Total TDs	4	5
Age	23	28
Experience	1 yrs	7 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 12

Summary

12.3 PPG for Bucky Irving versus 5.2 for Ty Johnson in 2025. The baseline favors Bucky Irving, though the right weekly matchup can flip the script. For a full breakdown that weighs matchup quality, form, and injury reports, try DraftCall's AI comparison engine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Bucky Irving or Ty Johnson in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bucky Irving has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Ty Johnson's 5.2 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 Ty Johnson average in 2025?▾

Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Ty Johnson averaged 5.2 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 7.1 points per game.

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

Bucky Irving (TB) has a bye in Week 10, and Ty Johnson (BUF) has a bye in Week 12. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Bucky Irving or Ty Johnson a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving outscored Ty Johnson by 7.1 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.