Bucs HC Todd Bowles said Monday that RB Bucky Irving "has definitely earned more reps." Irving was out-snapped 42 to 18 by RB Rachaad White in the Week 3 loss to the Broncos. Bowles said that was due to his team playing from behind. White remains the preferred back in passing situations. But it sounds like that gap in snaps should shrink in the coming weeks.
The rookie ran nine times for 70 yards adding three catches for 14 yards while Rachaad White had six rushes for 17 yards and five catches for 18 yards.
Bucs RB Rachaad White suffered a groin injury in the first quarter of Sunday's game vs. the Lions and is officially questionable to return. Stay tuned for an update. White's absence leaves rookie Bucky Irving as Tampa Bay's lead back.
Update: White returned to the game later in the first quarter.
Asked about his plans for the backfield on Wednesday, Bucs HC Todd Bowles said it'll change on a "game-by-game basis" and be a "hot-hand" situation. Bowles also confirmed that RB Rachaad White will start Sunday's opener vs. the Commanders.
The Buccaneers drafted Oregon RB Bucky Irving in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. Irving earned 133 carries as a freshman at Minnesota, but left after that season. He transferred to Oregon in 2022 and immediately earned a 1A backfield role. That year, the 192-pounder showed surprising power with 4.36 yards after contact per attempt. Nearly 22% of his carries went for 10+ yards en route to a career-best 6.8 yards per carry. Irving struggled with drops, but that issue proved less worrisome in 2023. Irving even led the nation in receptions by a RB (55). He showed scheme versatility by lining up out wide on 13.2% of his passing snaps. He played the slot nearly 10% of the time. On the ground, Irving remained productive while running both gap and zone concepts. The junior posted career highs in carries (186), yards (1,192), and TDs (11). By mid-winter, it looked like Irving had a chance to be among the first couple of RBs selected. Then came a horrid NFL Combine that included a 2.25 Relative Athletic Score. Irving posted a 26th-percentile broad jump (9'7) and 4th-percentile vertical (29.5 inches). He came off the board sixth among RBs, though, and lands in a Tampa Bay backfield that presents opportunity. Rachaad White enjoyed a breakout 2023 but did so primarily thanks to touch volume. He ranked sixth-lowest among qualifiers in rush yards over expected per attempt, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Among 63 RBs with at least 60 carries, White ranked just 48th in yards after contact per attempt (according to Pro Football Focus). He even checked in just 27th in PFF receiving grade among 61 RBs with at least 20 targets. Expect Irving to siphon some work from White right away, with a chance to keep earning more. This is a good landing spot for Irving's dynasty outlook. We'll see where he lands in rookie ADP.
Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles told reporters at the Scouting Combine that he'd "definitely like to have another back in here to take some of the weight off" RB Rachaad White. That statement shouldn't surprise anyone. White ranked sixth in the league in opportunity share last season and second in carries. He remained inefficient as a runner, though. He averaged just 3.6 yards per carry and ranked 38th among 44 qualifying RBs in rushing success rate. We're not betting Tampa Bay will replace White as the backfield leader. But the team would clearly like to upgrade on the rest of its 2023 backfield. And that's likely to cut into White's work share some. You might be surprised to see where White sits in our 2024 RB rankings, because we're already factoring in that expectation.
Liam Coen is expected to be named the Bucs' new OC, according to NFL Network. Coen broke into the NFL coaching ranks as a Rams assistant under HC Sean McVay from 2018 to 2020. He headed to the college ranks in 2021 as Kentucky's OC, re-joined McVay as Rams OC in 2022, and then bounced back to Kentucky's OC job this past year. The most noteworthy aspect of this hire is that Coen spent the second half of that 2022 season with QB Baker Mayfield, who's scheduled to hit free agency next month. A return to Tampa Bay seems to make the most sense for both sides.
Buccaneers RB Rachaad White went quiet in Week 17 vs. the Saints. The second-year back ended Sunday with 42 rushing yards on 11 carries with 4 receptions for 24 yards. Despite the disappointing finish, White has enjoyed a breakout season. Through Week 17, he sits fifth among RBs in total PPR points and ninth in points per game. White has already nearly doubled his carries (253) and rushing yards (915) vs. last year, while averagingof 3.8 receptions per game. This usage is encouraging as we look ahead to his age-25 season. Treat White as a borderline RB1 in dynasty formats.
Buccaneers RB Rachaad White again shined as the focal point of Tampa Bay's offense, totaling 25 carries for 102 rushing yards in Week 14 vs. the Falcons. The second-year back also roped in 2 catches for 33 yards and a TD in the contest. White has now seen at least 20 carries in three of his last five games and sets up fantasy managers well with a true workhorse role. He'll look to continue his fantasy dominance again in Week 15 vs. the Packers, a defense that's surrendered the third-most rushing yards (1,635) and yards per game (136.3) in the NFL this season. We'll see how they fare on Monday night vs. the Giants, but it's worth noting that Green Bay has allowed four straight games with at least 140 yards to opposing offenses. You're in excellent shape if you're rolling into the fantasy playoffs with White on your roster.
Buccaneers RB Rachaad White handled 20 carries for 84 rushing yards and a TD in Week 13 vs. the Panthers. The second-year back also recorded 3 catches for 22 yards. The 23 touches were White's second-most this season. But he has reached 20 carries in three of the past five games and fallen short of 17 touches in just three games all season. The Buccaneers' remaining schedule ranks seventh-toughest for RBs, but White's usage has been game-script resistant. Five Bucs losses have seen White fall short of 15 carries. He has caught at least three passes in each of those, including 6+ receptions in each of the past three such games. White's also averaging 99.9 total yards per game since Week 7. Don't be scared by the difficulty of his matchups. Start White confidently (in most cases) the rest of the season.
Bucs RB Rachaad White did not seem at all inhibited by the knee issue that landed him on the injury report ahead of Sunday's game vs. the Colts. He took 15 carries for a season-high 100 yards, highlighted by a 38-yard rip in the fourth quarter. White was quieter than usual in the passing game, catching both of his targets for 10 yards. But White has now totaled 98+ yards in five of his last six games. He gets another plus matchup in Week 13 against the Panthers' 30th-ranked RB defense. White's schedule toughens from that point on, with negative matchups against Atlanta, Jacksonville, and New Orleans between Weeks 14 and 17. But White's passing-game role will keep him comfortably in fantasy-starter range in those games.
Bucs RB Rachaad White (knee) is active for today’s game vs. the Colts. He was added to the injury report on Saturday as a precaution, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, after his knee “locked up” on Friday. That’s a little spooky – but there’s been nothing to suggest that White will be limited today. The Bucs have their usual three RBs active (White, Chase Edmonds, and Sean Tucker), which is further indication that there's no concern with White. He belongs in the vast majority of fantasy lineups against Indianapolis’ 31st-ranked RB defense.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Bucs RB Rachaad White's knee is "fine" and that he will play vs. the Colts today. White was added to the injury report on Saturday "only as a matter of precaution" after his knee "briefly locked up on Friday," according to Schefter. But "there is nothing structurally wrong with White’s knee." We'll continue to keep an eye on White up to and throughout today's game. But he can stay in starting fantasy lineups in this plus matchup against the Colts' 31st-ranked RB defense.
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler hears that Bucs RB Rachaad White (knee) is expected to play vs. the Colts on Sunday. White was added to the injury report on Saturday and is listed as questionable. We'll look for further updates on his status and how big an issue that knee might be in Indianapolis.
The Buccaneers on Saturday added RB Rachaad White to the injury report as questionable with a knee issue. White didn’t turn up on any of the week’s practice reports, so this issue must have arisen at some point since Friday’s practice. We’ll obviously need to watch White’s status up until game time against the Colts. If he can’t go, Chase Edmonds looks like the next guy up. He was the only other Bucs RB to play any offensive snaps last week. Edmonds played just 21%, though, and White has dominated backfield touches all season. We’d bet on more of a committee in his absence than Edmonds taking over that role. Edmonds can work as an insurance option, though, if you don’t have a better replacement available
Buccaneers RB Rachaad White took a short pass for a 43-yard TD in Sunday's win over the Titans. That drove White's fantasy day. That single play accounted for 57.9% of his PPR points. But he also reached 20 carries for the second straight game and claimed 23 of 27 Tampa Bay RB opportunities (85.2%). This workhorse role and White's recent receiving production make him a weekly starter for most fantasy football lineups. Tampa Bay's remaining schedule looks neutral for RB scoring.
Rachaad White's fantasy scoring got a boost from a pair of rushing TDs in last Sunday's loss to the Texans, just his second and third TD runs of the year. But a rise in receiving over the past three weeks has steadied his fantasy contributions. White's 10.5% target share over the first five games has increased to 14.9% over the past three. That has pushed him from 3.2 receptions and 19.6 yards per game over the first span to 5.7 catches and 60.3 yards over the past three. We can't expect White to continue his 100% catch rate of the more recent span. But increased passing-game usage is obviously a big plus -- especially when you consider that it has come during a time that included returning RB Chase Edmonds from IR. We'll certainly keep watching to see if the upturn holds. But it makes White a much easier fantasy start (especially in PPR) than he was earlier this season.
Bucs RB Rachaad White compiled 119 total yards and two TDs in the 39-37 Week 9 loss to the Texans. White turned 20 carries into 73 yards for a subpar 3.7 yards per carry. But he popped in a pair of one-yard rushing scores. And he was effective in the passing game, hauling in all four of his targets for 46 yards. White garnered 24 of Tampa Bay's 33 RB opportunities for a strong 73% share. The rushing has remained mostly inefficient, but White has now racked up 17 catches for 181 yards over his last three games. He's finished as a top-12 PPR RB in all three. White has brutal rushing matchups the next two weeks against the Titans and 49ers, but his passing-game usage should keep him in most fantasy lineups. He gets plus matchups vs. the Colts and Panthers in Weeks 12 and 13.
Bucs RB Rachaad White managed just 34 scoreless yards on 13 carries in the Week 7 loss to the Falcons. But he was busy in the passing game, hauling in all six of his targets for 65 yards. He tied with WRs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin for the team lead in catches and ranked behind only those two WRs in receiving yards. White's six targets were a solid 14.3% share. And, although the rushing production wasn't big, White at least out-carried RB Ke'Shawn Vaughn 13 to 4. It's getting tough to expect the rushing efficiency to improve. But if White can at least maintain this type of workload share, he should be able to produce as a low-end RB2 in PPR leagues.
Buccaneers RB Rachaad White tallied 73 yards and a TD on 17 carries (4.3 per rush) in Sunday's win over the Bears. He added 5 receptions for 30 yards on 5 targets. White claimed 22 of 32 total RB opportunities for the Bucs (68.8%) and accounted for 84.4% of total RB yards in the game. Sean Tucker ranked second with 8 carries but managed just 7 yards. Chase Edmonds carried twice for 12 yards. White's role is the biggest thing going for him right now, but his Week 2 production was encouraging. Tampa Bay hosts Philly and then visits New Orleans before a Week 5 bye.
Search
