Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Bucky Irving vs Tyler HigbeeWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Bucky Irving is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.3 PPG to Tyler Higbee's 6.5 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. Tyler Higbee (6.5 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

TELos Angeles Rams#25

Tyler Higbee

PPG

6.5

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

281

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 11

The Edge Chart

Bucky Irving

Tyler Higbee

Head to Head

12.3 PPG6.5 PPG

10 GP9 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 11

Fantasy Tiers

Bucky Irving: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). Tyler Higbee: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) TE (ranked #25 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 Tyler Higbee: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Bucky Irving (RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) against Tyler Higbee (TE, Los Angeles Rams) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 PPG in 2025 over 10 games, while Tyler Higbee posted 6.5 PPG across 9 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, Tyler Higbee in Week 11. 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. Tyler Higbee 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. Tyler Higbee (age 33) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining.

Did You Know?

•Bucky Irving outscored Tyler Higbee by a projected 99 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Bucky Irving played 10 games in 2025 compared to Tyler Higbee's 9. That durability gap means Bucky Irving 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 10 years younger than Tyler Higbee (23 vs 33), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Bucky Irving vs Tyler Higbee: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Bucky Irving	Tyler Higbee
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.3	6.5
Games Played	10	9
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	123	59
Rushing Yards	588	0
Rush Yds/Game	58.8	0.0
Rushing TDs	1	0
Receptions	30	25
Receiving Yards	277	281
Targets	35	36
Total TDs	4	3
Age	23	33
Experience	1 yrs	9 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 11

Summary

The 2025 numbers favor Bucky Irving at 12.3 PPG, 5.8 points per game above Tyler Higbee's 6.5. 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 Tyler Higbee in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bucky Irving has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to Tyler Higbee's 6.5 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 Tyler Higbee average in 2025?▾

Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Tyler Higbee averaged 6.5 PPG over 9 games. That is a difference of 5.8 points per game.

When are Bucky Irving and Tyler Higbee's bye weeks in 2026?▾

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