Head to Head

Updated August 16, 2026 from live stats

Bucky Irving vs MarShawn LloydWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

DraftCall Analytics

Start Bucky Irving over MarShawn Lloyd in 2026.

Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 PPG in 2025 to MarShawn Lloyd's 6.8, a 5.5 point per game edge. Both play running backs, so that per-game gap is the cleanest tiebreaker for a 2026 start or sit.

The Bottom Line

Bucky Irving is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 12.3 PPG and 865 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. MarShawn Lloyd (6.8 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Bucky Irving as the starter and MarShawn Lloyd as depth.

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

RBGreen Bay Packers#99

MarShawn Lloyd

PPG

6.8

Games

Rush Yds

325

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

112

Bye

Week 10

The Edge Chart

Bucky Irving

MarShawn Lloyd

Head to Head

12.3 PPG6.8 PPG

10 GP12 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 10

Fantasy Tiers

Bucky Irving: Tier 5 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). MarShawn Lloyd: Unranked RB. Among the top 50 running backs this season, Bucky Irving is producing at 56% of elite pace and MarShawn Lloyd at 31%. That ranking gap means Bucky Irving carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Bucky Irving vs MarShawn Lloyd: The Full Breakdown

Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Bucky Irving (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) finished the 2025 season averaging 12.3 fantasy points per game in 10 games. MarShawn Lloyd (Green Bay Packers) came in at 6.8 PPG over 12 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Bucky Irving carries a 5.5-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Bucky Irving ran for 588 yards and 1 touchdowns; MarShawn Lloyd posted 325 and 3. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

One thing to note: both players share a Week 10 bye. That means you need a backup plan at running back for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Bucky Irving at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. MarShawn Lloyd is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Bucky Irving (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. MarShawn Lloyd (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Bucky Irving outscored MarShawn Lloyd by a projected 94 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•MarShawn Lloyd played 12 games in 2025 compared to Bucky Irving's 10. That durability gap means MarShawn Lloyd 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.
•Both players share a Week 10 bye. If you roster both, you will need a replacement at the position that week.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Bucky Irving vs MarShawn Lloyd: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Bucky Irving	MarShawn Lloyd
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.3	6.8
Games Played	10	12
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	123	82
Rushing Yards	588	325
Rush Yds/Game	58.8	27.1
Rushing TDs	1	3
Receptions	30	16
Receiving Yards	277	112
Targets	35	0
Total TDs	4	3
Age	23	-
Experience	1 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 10

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Bucky Irving holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.3 points per game. MarShawn Lloyd averaged 6.8 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Bucky Irving or MarShawn Lloyd in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Bucky Irving has the edge at 12.3 PPG compared to MarShawn Lloyd's 6.8 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 MarShawn Lloyd average in 2025?▾

Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. MarShawn Lloyd averaged 6.8 PPG over 12 games. That is a difference of 5.5 points per game.

Do Bucky Irving and MarShawn Lloyd share a bye week?▾

Yes, both Bucky Irving and MarShawn Lloyd share a Week 10 bye in 2026. If you roster both, you will need a fill-in at running back for that week.

Is Bucky Irving or MarShawn Lloyd a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving outscored MarShawn Lloyd by 5.5 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.