RB Bucky Irving came back to earth in Week 6 after a 31.5-point Week 5. He ran 19 times for 46 yards (2.4 yards per carry) and caught 2 of 3 targets for 3 yards, finishing as the RB30 with 6.9 PPR points. Pittsburgh entered the week ninth in our run defense power rankings. The bright spot was the usage: Irving played 85% of snaps, a career high up from his previous best of 78%. He also took 91% of early downs, every two-minute snap and most third downs.
2026 Fantasy Football Impact
Irving was the RB3 in Week 5, running 21 times for 165 yards and a TD and adding a receiving score. Over the first five weeks, he played 61% of snaps to Kenneth Gainwell’s 41%. Gainwell had 7 touches in Week 5 but only 11 snaps and 3 touches this week.
Irving handled 19 of Tampa Bay’s 21 carries (90%) and ran 33 of 52 routes. With Sean Tucker inactive (quad), the Bucs elevated Josh Williams as their third back, leaving even fewer bodies to share the work. It seemed like a game where Kenneth Gainwell would get extra chances against his former team. Instead, he played just 11 snaps, though his longest run topped Irving’s best carry. Irving’s efficiency at 2.4 yards per carry is the concern if Tampa Bay goes back to a more balanced split.
Carolina allows the fifth-most adjusted PPR points to RBs (25.9) and ranked 28th in run defense power heading into Week 6. Atlanta is tougher in Week 8, allowing the 24th-most PPR points to RBs and ranking 13th in run defense power. Chicago ranked 30th (2.5 rush DVOA) heading into Week 9. If the workload holds, Irving is an RB2 with RB1 upside against the Panthers.
