The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will face the New Orleans Saints in Week 18. 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 18?
Week 18 Status: PLAYING
The Buccaneers’ lead running back was limited for the first two days of practice with shoulder and shin injuries. Irving is not at risk of missing this week’s game and does not carry an injury designation into Sunday’s game.
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 18?
Irving has three straight games with 15+ carries and multiple catches — the only thing I find myself thinking following every Tampa Bay game is “Why did they not give him the ball even more?”
Last week, he joined Saquon Barkley as the only player this season with BOTH a 30+ yard run and 30+ yard reception in multiple games. Being on that sort of shortlist is impressive, and he looks the part with each passing week.
The Saints’ rush defense ranks 30th in both EPA and success rate — is it possible that we haven’t seen his best? You’re playing Irving anywhere you can and loving the ability to do so. He’s going to be an expensive back this summer, and I’m tempted to pay whatever price the market determines is acceptable.
I love what Irving brings to the table, and that feeling is only magnified when the Bucs are a heavy favorite, something that caps Rachaad White’s snaps.
Are you looking for start/sit advice for other players in your lineup? Read our Week 18 Fantasy Start-Sit Advice Cheat Sheet for every fantasy-relevant player in every game.
Bucky Irving’s Fantasy Points Projection in Week 18
As of Saturday, Irving is projected to score 17.7 fantasy points in PPR formats. This includes 21.4 rushing attempts for 96.2 yards and 0.5 touchdowns. It also includes 1.5 receptions for 29.2 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 Fantasy Ranking
Our Weekly Consensus PPR Rankings are below — both positional and overall. They were last updated at 12:45 AM ET on Saturday, January 4. If you're in a Superflex league, make sure you check out our Week 18 Consensus Superflex Rankings.
Week 18 RB PPR Rankings
1) Bijan Robinson | ATL (vs. CAR)
2) Jahmyr Gibbs | DET (vs. MIN)
3) Derrick Henry | BAL (vs. CLE)
4) Jonathan Taylor | IND (vs. JAX)
5) Josh Jacobs | GB (vs. CHI)
6) Bucky Irving | TB (vs. NO)
7) Chase Brown | CIN (at PIT)
8) Aaron Jones | MIN (at DET)
9) De'Von Achane | MIA (at NYJ)
10) Zach Charbonnet | SEA (at LAR)
11) Brian Robinson Jr. | WAS (at DAL)
12) Breece Hall | NYJ (vs. MIA)
13) Ray Davis | BUF (at NE)
14) D'Andre Swift | CHI (at GB)
15) Rico Dowdle | DAL (vs. WAS)
16) Isaac Guerendo | SF (at ARI)
17) J.K. Dobbins | LAC (at LV)
18) Najee Harris | PIT (vs. CIN)
19) Jaleel McLaughlin | DEN (vs. KC)
20) Joe Mixon | HOU (at TEN)
21) Tyrone Tracy Jr. | NYG (at PHI)
22) Kenneth Gainwell | PHI (vs. NYG)
23) Blake Corum | LAR (vs. SEA)
24) Tank Bigsby | JAX (at IND)
25) Jaylen Warren | PIT (vs. CIN)
26) Travis Etienne Jr. | JAX (at IND)
27) Rhamondre Stevenson | NE (vs. BUF)
28) Michael Carter | ARI (vs. SF)
29) Rachaad White | TB (vs. NO)
30) Miles Sanders | CAR (at ATL)
31) D'Onta Foreman | CLE (at BAL)
32) Tyler Allgeier | ATL (vs. CAR)
33) Audric Estimé | DEN (vs. KC)
34) Kimani Vidal | LAC (at LV)
35) Will Shipley | PHI (vs. NYG)
36) Antonio Gibson | NE (vs. BUF)
37) Alexander Mattison | LV (vs. LAC)
38) Javonte Williams | DEN (vs. KC)
39) Ty Johnson | BUF (at NE)
40) Raheem Blackshear | CAR (at ATL)
41) Devin Singletary | NYG (at PHI)
42) Cam Akers | MIN (at DET)
43) Raheem Mostert | MIA (at NYJ)
44) Roschon Johnson | CHI (at GB)
45) Kenny McIntosh | SEA (at LAR)
46) Craig Reynolds | DET (vs. MIN)
47) Jeremy McNichols | WAS (at DAL)
48) Cordarrelle Patterson | PIT (vs. CIN)
49) Braelon Allen | NYJ (vs. MIA)
50) Julius Chestnut | TEN (vs. HOU)
51) Samaje Perine | KC (at DEN)
52) Patrick Taylor Jr. | SF (at ARI)
53) Sean Tucker | TB (vs. NO)
54) Jamaal Williams | NO (at TB)
55) Isaiah Davis | NYJ (vs. MIA)
56) Chris Brooks | GB (vs. CHI)
57) Pierre Strong Jr. | CLE (at BAL)
58) Clyde Edwards-Helaire | NO (at TB)
59) Emanuel Wilson | GB (vs. CHI)
60) Tony Pollard | TEN (vs. HOU)
61) Mike Boone | CAR (at ATL)
62) DeeJay Dallas | ARI (vs. SF)
63) Chris Rodriguez Jr. | WAS (at DAL)
64) Dare Ogunbowale | HOU (at TEN)
65) Khalil Herbert | CIN (at PIT)
66) Trey Sermon | IND (vs. JAX)
67) Rasheen Ali | BAL (vs. CLE)
68) Hassan Haskins | LAC (at LV)
69) Kyle Juszczyk | SF (at ARI)
70) Dameon Pierce | HOU (at TEN)
71) Jaylen Wright | MIA (at NYJ)
72) Carson Steele | KC (at DEN)
73) Sione Vaki | DET (vs. MIN)
74) Hunter Luepke | DAL (vs. WAS)
75) Tyler Goodson | IND (vs. JAX)
76) Ke'Shawn Vaughn | SF (at ARI)
77) Alec Ingold | MIA (at NYJ)
78) C.J. Ham | MIN (at DET)
79) Michael Burton | DEN (vs. KC)
80) Jeff Wilson Jr. | MIA (at NYJ)
81) D'Ernest Johnson | JAX (at IND)
82) Eric Gray | NYG (at PHI)
83) Jermar Jefferson | DET (vs. MIN)
84) Patrick Ricard | BAL (vs. CLE)
85) Joshua Kelley | NYG (at PHI)
86) Ty Chandler | MIN (at DET)
87) Israel Abanikanda | SF (at ARI)
88) Adam Prentice | NO (at TB)
89) Dylan Laube | LV (vs. LAC)
90) JaMycal Hasty | NE (vs. BUF)
91) George Holani | SEA (at LAR)
92) James Cook | BUF (at NE)