Bucky Irving Dynasty Rookie Profile

In today’s NFL, stud fantasy football running backs can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. In the vast majority of fantasy football leagues that utilize point-per-reception scoring formats, targets tend to be far more valuable than carries for a running back.

So, what does that mean for Oregon RB Bucky Irving’s dynasty value heading into upcoming drafts after leading the nation in both targets and receptions at the running back position last season? Let’s take a closer look.

Should You Draft Bucky Irving in Dynasty Fantasy Football?

Irving is a smaller but dynamic playmaker out of the backfield who is a versatile weapon that can gash opposing defenses in the running and passing game.

Dynasty fantasy football managers need to learn the name Bucky Irving!

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— PFN Fantasy (@PFNFantasy) January 25, 2024

His size is likely to be one of the reasons many NFL teams don’t invest high draft capital in him, but smaller sub-200-pound backs like Kyren Williams and Austin Ekeler — who are both very capable pass catchers and effective runners — have managed to produce huge fantasy numbers despite not having the prototypical size of other successful running backs in the NFL.

Listed at 5’10” and 195 pounds, Irving isn’t a tiny prospect by any stretch, but his lack of size doesn’t exactly do him a ton of favors about similar backs with a similar prospect profile going on to have lengthy fantasy success in the NFL.

Irving is a solid second or third-round value heading into upcoming rookie drafts. If he tests well and lands in a favorable landing spot, he could see his stock rise a bit with a very reliable pass-catching floor entering the NFL.

Who Is Irving?

Background

Irving is a product of Hillcrest High School in the state of Illinois, where he generated 3,264 rushing yards throughout his prep days before his senior season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Irving was named to the first-team all-state and named South Suburban Conference Player of the Year after an outstanding junior campaign, which helped him earn three-star prospect ratings by ESPN and rivals.com while earning a four-star prospect label from 247 Sports.

College Production

Irving started his collegiate career as a member of the Minnesota Golden Gophers, where he was pressed into significant action his true freshman year after starting running back Mohamed Ibrahim suffered a serious leg injury earlier in the season.

Irving capitalized on the opportunity by producing 772 total yards from scrimmage to go with four scores in 2021.

MORE: 2024 Dynasty Mock Draft

Despite a successful freshman campaign at Minnesota, Irving elected to transfer to Oregon heading into his sophomore year. This turned out to be a great choice because Irving nearly doubled his production across the board in his first season with the Ducks by generating 1,357 yards from scrimmage and 13 total TDs on 187 total touches in 2022.

Irving built off his stellar first year at Oregon by leading all running backs with 56 receptions to go with 1,593 total yards and 13 TDs in 2023.

Injury History

Irving dealt with an undisclosed injury toward the back half of the 2023 season but managed to play through the pain and did not miss a game his entire junior year.

Irving’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths

• Home run-type speed; clocked in at 21.8 MPH as a ball carrier against Portland State early in the 2023 season; his top speed can destroy angles and turn any routine touch into a highlight reel.
• Impressive contact balance and play strength for a smaller back; fights for extra yardage on every single touch; will power through arm tackles with leg churn and sheer will at times; has a great competitive spirit.
• Exceptional start/stop ability; able to make sharp cuts without losing very much speed; capable of sudden burst upfield when he sticks his foot in the ground to get downhill.
• Naturally elusive ball carrier with great timing; plus-level reaction agility who feels defenders overextend and punishes them with deceptive shoulder and head faints before sticking his foot in the ground to change direction, which results in leaving defenders grasping at air.
• Speed and suddenness to take edge even when out-leveraged by defenders.
• Very Effective gap scheme runner with a nice feel for operating behind pulling linemen in counter and power concepts; could prove to be an effective wide zone producer at the next level.
• Exceptional production in the passing game; receiver-type reliability with soft hands.

Weaknesses

• Can get a bit greedy at times and tries to bounce runs outside; leaves some easier yards on the table because of his desire to produce a big play.
• While he does an excellent job of fighting for extra yardage through contact; his sheer power is going to overwhelm bigger and more athletic defenders at the next level.
• Limited size could see some scouts pigeonhole him into a complimentary slashing/pass-catching role, which would limit his fantasy ceiling.
• Pass protection is a concern at the NFL level; sacks given up against Washington and Colorado in 2023 raise questions about the effectiveness of handling blitzing linebackers at the NFL level.

With the fantasy football season behind us, why not start preparing for your rookie drafts with our dynasty rookie rankings? Additionally, as you look to improve your team heading into 2024, our dynasty trade calculator can help you find the perfect deal to boost your championship chances.