The NFL season is quickly approaching and fantasy drafts are in full swing. At DraftKings, you can play an array of different season-long fantasy contests.
Below, I take a look at the fantasy value of all the players in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ backfield.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Offense
In 2020, Tom Brady came to Tampa Bay and brought it a Super Bowl in his first season with the team. Since that season, the Buccaneers have won the NFC South four straight years, two years with Tom Brady and the past two with Baker Mayfield. Mayfield was unwisely cast out of Cleveland despite bringing it success for the first time in decades. He then found it hard to break back into a steady starting job over the next several seasons, bouncing around to different teams in different roles. However, he found a home in Tampa Bay where he could thrive. Over the past two seasons, Mayfield ranks first in the NFL in passing touchdowns and second in passing yards.
This has become one of the best offenses in the NFL with Mayfield leading the way. However, last season, Bucky Irving gave the offense a component it had been missing. The rookie running back entered the season as Rachaad White’s backup, but after showing his explosiveness and talent in the pass game over the first few weeks of the season, he quickly took over as the primary back. Despite entering the season in a backup role, Irving ended up finishing eighth among running backs in rushing + receiving yards last season. The Buccaneers will enter this season with the same running back duo of Irving and White, but Irving will be the primary back from the jump.
Running Back Handcuffs: Rachaad White
Last season, it seemed clear that the rookie Bucky Irving would end up having a role in the offense, despite being the backup. That made him a must-handcuff for any Rachaad White fantasy owners. This season, the roles have reversed. Irving is one of the most valuable commodities in 2025 fantasy drafts, while White is the handcuff for Irving. While Irving is going to be in the RB1 role, White should still see a decent amount of action throughout the season. He finished last season 25th in the NFL in rushing + receiving yards. So, with David Montgomery in Detroit being the top RB2 in the league, White has a case for being the second-strongest backup running back in the NFL this season.
White has only missed one NFL game over three seasons in the NFL, showing great dependability. Bucky Irving stayed totally healthy in his rookie season, but if he were to miss any time, White would be prepared to step in and do a great job. White is one of the most valuable handcuff pieces in the NFL because, in deeper fantasy leagues, he could be a viable starter despite being a backup on his own team. The Buccaneers ranked fifth in the NFL in offensive EPA/play last season. They should be one of the league’s best offenses once again, allowing plenty of touches for White even though he will be in a backup role.
