Bucs should get the best of Bucky Irving in 2026, thanks to a notable trend from the Falcons last year
The Bucs’ new offensive coordinator got the most from All-Pro Bijan Robinson last year, and Irving should be primed for a bounce back year.
2025 was a year to forget for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and that was especially the case for their young offensive star Bucky Irving.
The Bucs’ 2025 breakout rookie saw his sophomore campaign hit a wall very early in the season, thanks to a pair of unfortunate injuries that kept him off the field for the majority of the season. Shoulder and foot injuries limited him to just 10 games, in which he totaled 588 rushing yards and 277 receiving yards.
That’s quite the drop off from Irving’s big 2024 season, where he racked up over 1500 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns in 17 games.
But things could be looking a lot more like 2024 for Irving, and perhaps the Bucs’ offense as well. At least that’s what Pro Football Focus’ Nathan Jahnke thinks could be the case this fall. Jahnke listed Irving among his fantasy football bounce back candidates for 2026. And it’s new Bucs offensive coordinator Zac Robinsonwho Jahnke thinks could be a difference maker for Irving this fall.
Bucs RB Bucky Irving could be set to thrive in Zac Robinson’s game plan
“Robinson’s arrival could further boost Irving’s fantasy outlook,” Jahnke wrote. “Falcons running backs combined for 1,435 receiving yards over the past two seasons under Robinson, suggesting both Irving and Gainwell should remain active in the passing game.
Jahnke also noted that Robinson split the goal line carries fairly evenly between Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier last year in Atlanta despite the latter having the clear size advantage.
Perhaps former offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s best work in 2024 was finding ways to get the ball to Irving in space, both on the ground and in the passing game. Robinson was very good at doing the same last year with Bijan Robinson, who had a career-high 820 receiving yards on 79 catches last season on the way to first-team All-Pro honors.
Irving could be the next beneficiary of Robinson’s game plan in a similar role this season, even with pass catching specialist Kenneth Gainwell on the roster. And if Robinson can get Irving back on track and utilize that elusiveness in space again, the Bucs’ offense will easily hit another gear in 2026.