The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8. Here’s the latest fantasy football news and advice to help you with your lineups this week and moving forward, especially regarding RB Bucky Irving.
Is Bucky Irving Playing in Week 8?
Bucky Irving did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday due to a toe injury. However, he returned to practice on Friday and is expected to suit up against the Falcons on Sunday, despite officially being listed as questionable.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles promised a three-headed monster of a backfield, and Tampa Bay delivered on that vow against the Ravens on Monday night:
- Rachaad White: 39 snaps, 16 opportunities (carries + targets)
- Bucky Irving: 29 snaps, 12 opportunities
- Sean Tucker: 16 snaps, 7 opportunities
White scored two receiving TDs and finished as the RB2, while Irving punched in a TD on the ground and ranked as RB16 in Week 8. Tucker, of course, was RB1 after posting 192 scrimmage yards in Week 7.
Three-way backfields are endlessly frustrating for fantasy managers. Unfortunately, it usually takes an injury to sort out a muddle situation like this.
We’ll continue to monitor the Buccaneers’ injury report. You can also visit and bookmark our NFL Injury Tracker and Fantasy News Tracker for the latest updates.
Should You Start or Sit Bucky Irving in Week 8?
In Week 5, the Bucs ran for 160 yards on the Falcons with Rachaad White, Irving, and Baker Mayfield all having a run that picked up at least 15 yards. We didn’t learn much from the Week 7 blowout, but it would appear that Tampa Bay is looking to deploy a committee, something that could render all involved useless.
To my eye (and spreadsheet), Irving has the most juice in this backfield, but it doesn’t matter what I think. I’m not comfortable in projecting any of these backs for RB2 production in this matchup against the third-best defense in terms of running back touchdown rate.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 8 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Bucky Irving’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 8
Irving is projected to score 12.1 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 14.6 rushing attempts for 65.8 yards and 0.4 touchdowns. It also includes 1 receptions for 20 yards and 0.1 touchdowns.
Check out the free PFN Fantasy Start-Sit Optimizer for the latest projections and advice for your lineups this week.
Bucky Irving’s Week 8 Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 6:05 AM ET on Sunday, December 22. If you're in a Superflex league, make sure you check out our Weekly Consensus Superflex Rankings.
Week 16 RB PPR Rankings
1) Bijan Robinson | ATL (vs. NYG)
2) Saquon Barkley | PHI (at WAS)
3) Derrick Henry | BAL (vs. PIT)
4) Josh Jacobs | GB (vs. NO)
5) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET (at CHI)
6) Chase Brown | CIN (vs. CLE)
7) De'Von Achane | MIA (vs. SF)
8) James Conner | ARI (at CAR)
9) Kyren Williams | LAR (at NYJ)
10) Joe Mixon | HOU (at KC)
11) Jonathan Taylor | IND (vs. TEN)
12) Chuba Hubbard | CAR (vs. ARI)
13) Rico Dowdle | DAL (vs. TB)
14) Bucky Irving | TB (at DAL)
15) Aaron Jones | MIN (at SEA)
16) James Cook | BUF (vs. NE)
17) Tony Pollard | TEN (at IND)
18) Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS (vs. PHI)
19) Rhamondre Stevenson | NE (at BUF)
20) Isiah Pacheco | KC (vs. HOU)
21) D'Andre Swift | CHI (vs. DET)
22) Rachaad White | TB (at DAL)
23) Zach Charbonnet | SEA (vs. MIN)
24) Breece Hall | NYJ (vs. LAR)
25) Jerome Ford | CLE (at CIN)
26) Najee Harris | PIT (at BAL)
27) Tyrone Tracy Jr. | NYG (at ATL)
28) Tank Bigsby | JAX (at LV)
29) Kendre Miller | NO (at GB)
30) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX (at LV)
31) Patrick Taylor Jr. | SF (at MIA)
32) Jaylen Warren | PIT (at BAL)
33) Kimani Vidal | LAC (vs. DEN)
34) Tyjae Spears | TEN (at IND)
35) Javonte Williams | DEN (at LAC)
36) Kareem Hunt | KC (vs. HOU)
37) Justice Hill | BAL (vs. PIT)
38) Tyler Allgeier | ATL (vs. NYG)
39) Cam Akers | MIN (at SEA)
40) Braelon Allen | NYJ (vs. LAR)
41) Gus Edwards | LAC (vs. DEN)
42) Isaiah Davis | NYJ (vs. LAR)
43) Raheem Mostert | MIA (vs. SF)
44) Devin Singletary | NYG (at ATL)
45) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI (at WAS)
46) Blake Corum | LAR (at NYJ)
47) Alexander Mattison | LV (vs. JAX)
48) Antonio Gibson | NE (at BUF)
49) Ty Johnson | BUF (vs. NE)
50) Roschon Johnson | CHI (vs. DET)
51) Ameer Abdullah | LV (vs. JAX)
52) Israel Abanikanda | SF (at MIA)
53) Will Shipley | PHI (at WAS)
54) Jeremy McNichols | WAS (vs. PHI)
55) Ray Davis | BUF (vs. NE)
56) D'Onta Foreman | CLE (at CIN)
57) Jaylen Wright | MIA (vs. SF)
58) Audric Estimé | DEN (at LAC)
59) Cordarrelle Patterson | PIT (at BAL)
60) Sean Tucker | TB (at DAL)
61) Kenny McIntosh | SEA (vs. MIN)
62) Kenneth Walker III | SEA (vs. MIN)
63) Ezekiel Elliott | DAL (vs. TB)
64) Chris Rodriguez Jr. | WAS (vs. PHI)
65) Emanuel Wilson | GB (vs. NO)
66) Khalil Herbert | CIN (vs. CLE)
67) Chris Brooks | GB (vs. NO)
68) Mike Boone | CAR (vs. ARI)
69) Dare Ogunbowale | HOU (at KC)
70) Samaje Perine | KC (vs. HOU)
71) Hunter Luepke | DAL (vs. TB)
72) Dameon Pierce | HOU (at KC)
73) Kyle Juszczyk | SF (at MIA)
74) Jamaal Williams | NO (at GB)
75) Pierre Strong Jr. | CLE (at CIN)
76) Trey Sermon | IND (vs. TEN)
77) Hassan Haskins | LAC (vs. DEN)
78) Ty Chandler | MIN (at SEA)
79) Tyler Goodson | IND (vs. TEN)
80) Ke'Shawn Vaughn | SF (at MIA)
81) Michael Burton | DEN (at LAC)
82) Eric Gray | NYG (at ATL)
83) Darrynton Evans | BUF (vs. NE)
84) Alec Ingold | MIA (vs. SF)
85) Dylan Laube | LV (vs. JAX)
86) Carson Steele | KC (vs. HOU)
87) C.J. Ham | MIN (at SEA)
88) Keilan Robinson | JAX (at LV)
89) Craig Reynolds | DET (at CHI)
90) Patrick Ricard | BAL (vs. PIT)
91) DeeJay Dallas | ARI (at CAR)
92) George Holani | SEA (vs. MIN)
93) Rasheen Ali | BAL (vs. PIT)
94) Adam Prentice | NO (at GB)
95) Julius Chestnut | TEN (at IND)
96) Travis Homer | CHI (vs. DET)
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Insights
Atlanta Falcons
Team: The Falcons have the league’s worst average starting field position (their own 26.8-yard line).
QB: Is Kirk Cousins getting a hang of this system? Over the past three weeks, he’s completed 70.4% of passes when blitzed (Weeks 1-4: 46.7%).
Offense: Despite the one-sided loss to the Seahawks last week, the Falcons have improved their third down conversion rate in four straight games. In Weeks 1-3, they converted 22.2% of third downs, a rate that has improved to 46.2% since.
Defense: The Falcons (50.7%) and Panthers (55.8%) are the only teams in the league allowing points on most drives this season.
Fantasy: Drake London is starting to live up to the promise when he entered the NFL – he’s been a top 20 fantasy receiver in five of the past six weeks.
Betting: Kirk Cousins has covered five straight road games (his last three with Minnesota and his first two with Atlanta).
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Team: This is Tampa Bay’s fourth home game in a six-week stretch – they go on the road for five of seven contests from Week 9-Week 16.
QB: Baker Mayfield’s fourth red zone pass of Week 7 was intercepted by Marlon Humphrey. In Weeks 1-6, he was nearly perfect inside the 20-yard line: 20-of-25 with 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Offense: The Buccaneers have scored on their opening drive in four straight games, allowing this team to play with a lead more often than not.
Defense: Tampa Bay has been outscored 44-7 in second quarters over the past two games (in the other three quarters of those games, they’ve outscored the opposition 75-24).
Fantasy: Mike Evans left Week 7 with a hamstring injury that had his status in question mid-week – he turned seven targets into 23.2 PPR fantasy points against the Falcons in their Week 5 meeting.
Betting: On short rest, Baker Mayfield is 2-3 ATS when playing on the road (5-1 ATS in such spots at home).