Jason Moore thinks Bucky Irving is going a round too early at his current 2.09 ADP. Moore has Irving ranked as RB11 overall but warned that the rookie is already priced near his ceiling. While Irving’s 4.4-yards-after-contact and 12% target share in college hint at explosive potential, Moore does not see true top-three upside in Tampa Bay’s offense, especially with Rachaad White still lurking on passing downs. He noted several backs still on the board whom he projects for higher touch ceilings and a clearer red-zone path. Moore advised fading Irving in the late second and waiting for a safer workload profile later in drafts.

Pat Kerrane argued Bucky Irving should already be ranked ahead of vets like Josh Jacobs in both dynasty and early-season best-ball drafts. Kerrane highlighted that Irving finished 2024 as one of the NFL’s most efficient rushers—out-gaining Rachaad White in yards after contact and explosive-run rate despite a smaller sample. The Buccaneers added zero meaningful backfield competition in free agency or the draft, and the coaching staff has "kept raving" about Irving’s work ethic. Kerrane acknowledged rookie-year pass-protection issues but said that is the one area backs routinely improve in Year 2, citing his research for the Legendary RB Upside series. If Irving earns a full passing-down role, his already strong 1.60 yards per route run could spike. With Tampa expected to run a top-12 pace offense and give Irving an entire off-season to add weight and refine protection, Kerrane is comfortable taking him at the 2/3 turn in redraft and views him as a locked-in RB1 building block for the next three dynasty seasons.

Pete Overzet told viewers they should still draft rookie Bucky Irving in Eliminator drafts because his late-season upside can swing a bracket, but only if they protect the pick with a proven ‘chaperone’ back. Irving could take a month or two to vault Tampa Bay’s depth chart, and weekly one-on-one eliminations will not forgive early zeros. Pete’s fix is to grab a boring, locked-in volume veteran in the same build so the roster keeps advancing until Irving’s ceiling weeks arrive. He framed it as “walking a tightrope with a safety net” – the upside is worth it, but you must guarantee early production elsewhere.

Jason Moore planted a flag on Bucky Irving, projecting 275 carries and legitimate RB2 overall upside despite a crowded Tampa Bay depth chart. Irving led all 44 qualified backs in yards after contact per rush at 2.7 and was the RB7 from Week 10 forward. Moore cited a post‑bye workload that extrapolates to 270 attempts even when factoring in a four‑carry Week 14 cameo. He downplayed concerns about Rachaad White and Sean Tucker, arguing that Irving’s 22‑year‑old legs and big‑play ability make him the clear foundational piece. Moore took a water bet with co‑host Mike Wright that Irving will hit 275 carries if healthy, framing him as a locked‑in second‑round pick with a realistic finish inside the top‑5 backs.