The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have more than one running back worth paying attention to in fantasy football this season.
Bucky Irving remains the starter, but the addition of Kenny Gainwell gives Tampa Bay another proven option as both a runner and receiver. Sean Tucker is also still in the picture after carving out a role on offense and special teams last season, although a hamstring injury has put his Week 1 availability in question.
The Bucs officially list the backfield as Irving, Gainwell, and Tucker heading into Sunday's opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. Here's how fantasy managers should approach all three.
Bucky Irving: Start
Irving is the safest fantasy option in Tampa Bay's backfield. After injuries limited his second season, Irving enters 2026 healthy and
remains at the top of the depth chart. He'll also have the benefit of running behind a Bucs offensive line that enters Week 1 with Tristan Wirfs, Ben Bredeson, Graham Barton, Cody Mauch and Luke Goedeke together.
Cincinnati's defensive front should keep expectations somewhat in check. The Bengals added Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen and Boye Mafe during the offseason, giving Tampa Bay a much different defensive line to deal with than the one Cincinnati fielded last season.
That doesn't provide enough reason to sit Irving. His ability to contribute as a runner and receiver gives him more than one path to fantasy production, and Tampa Bay should have plenty of reasons to keep him involved.
Verdict: Start the Buccaneers RB1. Irving is the clear Bucs running back to trust in Week 1.
Kenny Gainwell: Flex consideration
Gainwell is the most interesting Bucs running back outside of Irving. The veteran wasn't always strictly a running back. Gainwell originally committed to Memphis as a receiver before moving into the backfield, and that background still shows in his game. He caught a career-high 73 passes with Pittsburgh last season while also rushing for 537 yards.
Tampa Bay has already discussed using that versatility. Gainwell can run routes out of the backfield while also giving the Bucs someone who can handle traditional carries when Irving needs a break.
That makes his fantasy value particularly interesting in PPR formats. The biggest unknown is exactly how Tampa Bay will divide the workload between its top two backs now that both are available.
Tucker's status could factor into that equation, too. If Tucker can't play Sunday, there is one fewer player competing for touches in the backfield.
Verdict: Flex consideration. Gainwell isn't an automatic Week 1 start, but his ability as both a runner and pass catcher gives him sleeper appeal in deeper leagues, particularly in PPR formats.
Sean Tucker: Sit, but monitor closely
Tucker is the hardest player in the backfield to project. He went from not practicing Wednesday to limited participation Thursday as he works through a hamstring injury. Head coach Todd Bowles has called him a game-time decision, which already makes him difficult to trust in a Week 1 fantasy lineup.
That doesn't mean fantasy managers should forget about him. Tucker has shown he can contribute beyond simply giving Irving a breather. He led Tampa Bay with seven rushing touchdowns in 2025 and is listed as the Bucs' top kickoff returner entering this season. He also handled return work during the preseason.
His touchdown production last season makes his near-goal-line usage worth monitoring once he's healthy. Tampa Bay hasn't established how those opportunities will be divided in 2026, so it would be premature to assume Irving receives every valuable carry near the end zone.
Tucker's return role could also matter in leagues that award individual players points for return yards. That won't help managers in every format, but it gives him another possible route to fantasy production beyond his offensive touches.
Verdict: Sit in Week 1, but keep an eye on him. The hamstring and uncertain workload make Tucker too risky to start against Cincinnati, but his return duties and potential involvement around the goal line make him a player worth monitoring rather than ignoring.
The Bucs' backfield should become much easier to evaluate once we see Zac Robinson's first regular-season rotation.
For now, Irving belongs in starting lineups. Gainwell has enough receiving ability to warrant flex consideration in deeper formats, while Tucker is more of a stash whose role could become interesting depending on his health and how Tampa Bay distributes its goal-line work.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Should you start Bucs RBs in fantasy football vs. Bengals?
