Ahead of the Bucs‘ Week 14 matchup agains the Saints, Bucky Irving received a positive update in terms of his status for this weekend’s game.
Bucky Irving returned last week for the first time since his foot and shoulder injuries in Week 4 against the Eagles. He rushed for 61 yards on 17 carries and had a touchdown to help lift the Bucs over the Cardinals.
This week however, Irving was listed as a limited participant in practice, raising concerns about his potential status in this week’s game against the Saints. Fortunately, for Bucs fans and fantasy managers everywhere, the Bucs’ latest injury report, which came out on Thursday, listed Irving as a full participant in practice.
This comes as good news that Irving has recovered well and perhaps needed a little bit of time to recuperate from his first game action in several weeks. Still, as one of the Bucs’ most important offensive playmakers, it is always a good sign for the Bucs and a warning for the opposition whenever Irving is on the field.
Irving’s Role and Offensive Impact
Said Mayfield of Irving as a playmaker in the offense, ” Just the explosive play ability. Just having him back out there, he gets a lot of attention whether he gets the ball or not.”
Even in the limited time Irving has had on the field, he has still made the most of it. He has 88 carries for 298 yards and a touchdown, and also has proven to be a reliable pass catcher as well, hauling in 21 receptions for 213 yards and two touchdowns.
It is important that Irving remains healthy in an important down the stretch run for the Bucs. At 7-, they are currently battling with the Carolina Panthers for first place in the NFC South. They play the Panthers two times in the span of five weeks, with the winners of those games the most likely NFC South champion.
Outlook vs. Saints and Fantasy Implications
This week however, they take on the lowly Saints, a team that Irving could have much success against. The Saints rank 21st in the league in terms of rushing yards allowed per game at 126.9.
It is important to note that Irving could still purportedly be on a bit of a pitch count. Last week, while Irving received the bulk of the carries, with 32 touches to Rachaad White’s 23 and Sean Tucker’s nine, Todd Bowles said that the vast majority of snaps going to Bucky was just “more or less game flow.”
For fantasy managers specifically, the return of Irving and the fact his usage rate is still amping up should excite them over the next five weeks. The Bucs will be playing in meaningful games down the stretch, and the fact that Irving has already assumed the role of RB1 for the Bucs after his injury absence speaks volumes about how he can perform down the stretch.
The Bucs have had their injury problems all year long, with both Chris Godwin and Mike Evans out for extended periods as well. The return of Bucky Irving though, could be the ultimate stabilizer
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