Head to Head

Updated May 14, 2026 from live stats

Bucky Irving vs Joe Mixon

Fantasy Football Comparison for the 2026 NFL Season

The Bottom Line

Joe Mixon is the better fantasy play this season.

Joe Mixon has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 4.2-PPG advantage is real (16.5 to 12.3), and Joe Mixon's 12 touchdowns show scoring upside. Bucky Irving is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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RBTampa Bay Buccaneers#19

Bucky Irving

PPG

12.3

Games

Rush Yds

588

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

277

Bye

Week 9

RBHouston Texans#99PPG LEADER

Joe Mixon

PPG

16.5

Games

Rush Yds

1,165

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

240

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Bucky Irving

Joe Mixon

Head to Head

12.3 PPG16.5 PPG

10 GP15 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

Bucky Irving: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #19 at the position). Joe Mixon: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Bucky Irving is producing at 56% of elite pace and Joe Mixon at 75%. That ranking gap means Bucky Irving carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Bucky Irving vs Joe Mixon: Who Should You Start?

Bucky Irving and Joe Mixon are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 PPG across 10 games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Joe Mixon posted 16.5 PPG in 15 appearances for the Houston Texans.

A 4.2-PPG gap gives Joe Mixon the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Both profile as early-down workhorses. Bucky Irving ran for 588 yards and 1 touchdowns; Joe Mixon posted 1165 and 11. Goal-line share, red zone touches, and which team is favored are usually the tiebreaker when neither back offers passing-game volume.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Bucky Irving sits Week 9 while Joe Mixon is off Week 14. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Joe Mixon at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Bucky Irving is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Bucky Irving (age 23) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. Joe Mixon (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Joe Mixon outscored Bucky Irving by a projected 71 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Joe Mixon played 15 games in 2025 compared to Bucky Irving's 10. That durability gap means Joe Mixon contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Joe Mixon scored 12 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.8 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Joe Mixon caught 32 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown▾

StatIrvingMixon

PPG (Half-PPR)12.316.5

Games Played1015

Total Fantasy Pts (est.)123248

Rushing Yards5881,165

Rush Yds/Game58.877.7

Rushing TDs111

Receptions3032

Receiving Yards277240

Targets350

Total TDs412

Age23-

Experience1 yrs-

Bye WeekWeek 9Week 14

Summary

Joe Mixon outscored Bucky Irving by 4.2 PPG in 2025 (16.5 to 12.3). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Bucky Irving or Joe Mixon in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Joe Mixon has the edge at 16.5 PPG compared to Bucky Irving's 12.3 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Bucky Irving and Joe Mixon average in 2025?▾

Bucky Irving averaged 12.3 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 10 games in 2025. Joe Mixon averaged 16.5 PPG over 15 games. That is a difference of 4.2 points per game.

When are Bucky Irving and Joe Mixon's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Bucky Irving (TB) has a bye in Week 9, and Joe Mixon (HOU) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Bucky Irving or Joe Mixon a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Joe Mixon outscored Bucky Irving by 4.2 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.