The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' backfield suddenly became much more complicated for fantasy football managers heading into Thursday night's matchup with the Dallas Cowboys.
Bucky Irving remains the lead back, but Kenneth Gainwell has maintained a significant role, and Sean Tucker finally got his opportunity against Green Bay. Tucker played only three offensive snaps but received a carry on all three, turning them into 10 yards, an eight-yard fourth-down conversion, and a two-yard touchdown.
Head coach Todd Bowles acknowledged after the game that Tampa Bay needs to find more opportunities for Tucker while working all three running backs into the offense.
“I mean, he's tough,” Bowles said of Tucker. “He needs to earn a few reps. I mean, we've got to find
a way to split the three backs kind of…it doesn't have to be equally, but, you know, a hot hand should be able to ride a little bit longer – the same thing we discussed.”
That makes projecting the backfield more difficult, but the matchup couldn't be much better. Dallas enters Week 5 ranked 31st against the run, allowing 150.3 rushing yards per game. The Cowboys are also 29th in scoring defense and have allowed opponents to score touchdowns on 73.3% of their red-zone trips.
Bucky Irving: Start as an RB2
Irving remains the Buccaneers running back I feel most comfortable starting. He leads Tampa Bay with 241 rushing yards through four games and handled 16 carries for 61 yards against Green Bay.
His workload could take a slight hit if Tampa Bay follows through on getting Tucker more involved, particularly around the goal line, but Irving remains at the top of the depth chart and has played 159 offensive snaps through four games.
Against a Dallas defense allowing 150.3 rushing yards per game, Irving belongs in fantasy lineups. I'm treating him as an RB2 rather than an RB1 because we don't know exactly how Tampa Bay will distribute touches among all three backs Thursday night.
Kenneth Gainwell: Flex in PPR leagues
Gainwell isn't getting enough rushing volume for me to trust him as a traditional starting running back, but his role in the passing game gives him Flex appeal, particularly in PPR formats.
He played 27 offensive snaps against Green Bay despite receiving only three carries. Gainwell also caught a 10-yard touchdown from Jalon Daniels in the fourth quarter, showing where much of his fantasy value could come from with the rookie quarterback under center.
The receiving ability isn't new. Gainwell caught 73 passes for 486 yards and three touchdowns with Pittsburgh last season. Tampa Bay brought him in partly because of his versatility, and his pass-protection ability can help keep him on the field with an inexperienced quarterback.
I wouldn't expect a big rushing performance, but receptions can make Gainwell usable as a Flex in PPR leagues.
Sean Tucker: Start at your own risk
Tucker is the most difficult Buccaneers running back to evaluate this week. Tucker converted a fourth-and-one and scored from two yards out against Green Bay, and both Bowles and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson have talked about finding more opportunities for him. Tucker also served as Tampa Bay's short-yardage and goal-line option last season, giving him a potential path to touchdowns even without a large workload.
The problem is that we have no idea how many opportunities are actually coming. Tucker had three offensive snaps against Green Bay after logging only one offensive snap over Tampa Bay's first three games. Bowles wants to work him into the rotation, but that doesn't guarantee he'll get enough touches to be a reliable fantasy starter.
If you're in a deep league and need a high-risk Flex, Tucker has touchdown upside against a Dallas defense that has struggled against the run and in the red zone. He could get the goal-line and short-yardage work and turn a handful of carries into a useful fantasy performance.
He could also barely see the field, depending on the coaching and game situation. That's why Tucker is a start-at-your-own-risk option rather than someone I'm recommending for a normal fantasy lineup.
Verdict
Irving is the clear starter for the group at RB2, especially against one of the NFL's worst rushing defenses. Gainwell is a PPR Flex because his receiving role gives him another avenue to fantasy points even without many carries.
Tucker is the gamble. The matchup and potential short-yardage role are appealing, but until we actually see how Tampa Bay divides this three-man backfield, fantasy managers are betting on a touchdown more than a predictable workload.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Should you start Bucs RBs this week in fantasy football?
