The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are still on top of the NFC South, despite a Week 10 loss to the Patriots following their bye week. They will look to bounce back against the Bills this week, but they’ll still be without Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) and Chris Godwin Jr. (fibula) as they shuffle north to Buffalo. With Irving out again, Rachaad White and Sean Tucker will handle the work in the backfield.
Let’s take a look at what to expect from White and Tucker against the Bills this week, and if either — or both — carry any fantasy value.
Bucky Irving Injury Update
Irving has missed the last six weeks (five games) for the Bucs while dealing with a shoulder subluxation and a sprained left foot. Earlier in the week, coach Todd Bowles said that he didn’t expect Irving to be back this week, but it’s still a good sign that he was able to return to practice.
He was limited in his reps this week, but he doesn’t seem far from being ready to return, so Week 12 against the Rams in Los Angeles could be a realistic target. The Bucs have three straight home matchups after that trip, including a Thursday Night Football game against the Falcons in Week 15.
Rachaad White Fantasy Football Outlook
White has taken most of the work while Irving has been out. He’s played at least 70% of snaps in all but one game, and played 50 snaps (72%) in Week 10 after the bye week.
He managed only 38 rushing yards on his 10 carries, but still hit double-digit fantasy points by adding five catches for 16 yards. White had back-to-back big games with over 17 fantasy points in the first two games Irving missed, since he was able to get into the end zone. Still, his average output has been unimpressive for the last three games, with rushing yardage under 40 yards, despite at least 10 carries in each game that Irving has missed.
Sean Tucker Fantasy Football Outlook
Tucker has been more productive for the last two games, even though he has played fewer snaps than White. In Week 9 against the Saints, he played 34% of snaps and took 12 carries for 42 yards and scored his second touchdown of the season.
He led the team in rushing last week against the Patriots as well, taking nine carries for 53 yards, which was far better than White’s output. Tucker has out-rushed White 95-to-73 over the last two weeks and has just two fewer carries. While White is definitely more involved as a receiver, Tucker has been doing enough with his carries to command attention in Week 11.
The Bottom Line
The Buccaneers’ running backs are in a good matchup this week against the Bills, who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points this season to running backs. De’Von Achane went off against them last week, and now they have surrendered 12 running back touchdowns in nine games, along with 117.2 rushing yards per game to the position. They haven’t let a running back score as a receiver, though, allowing just 23.8 receiving yards per game to running backs.
In this matchup, both Bucs backs have upside as flex plays. They’re both touchdown-dependent, but with Tucker getting good rushing yards, he could be the sneakier pivot play.
In one-week DFS contests like the NFL $2.5M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st] on DraftKings, White’s salary is $6,200, while Tucker’s is very affordable at only $5,000. It’s a boom-or-bust play considering the uncertainty of his role, but he represents good upside and value at that price point, amidst a number of other volatile plays in that range. White’s receiving contributions give him a higher floor as a flex option, but Tucker’s ceiling is also worth considering. He starred in college at Syracuse, so it’s a bit of a homecoming for Tucker, as well — if you want to take a trip down Narrative Street.
