Tampa Bay Buccaneers DVOA, Stats, & NFL Rankings

Tampa Buccaneers rookie running back Bucky Irving (toe) is in play to suit up on Sunday according to Brianna Dix. The 22-year-old was also spotted at practice on Friday after sitting out on Wednesday and Thursday. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during the weekend as he will likely carry an injury designation into their tilt against the Atlanta Falcons. If Irving is able to suit up, the Buccaneers will likely operate in a three-man backfield situation which would make both him and Rachaad White low-end RB2s with Sean Tucker serving as an RB3. White would have the higher floor given his ability to succeed as a pass catcher. If Irving is unable to play, then both White and Tucker will share the backfield with White seeing the majority of the work.

The Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud reports that although Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Bucky Irving (toe) missed practice for the second straight day this week on Thursday, he's trending well. The next two days will be crucial for Irving when it comes to his status for the Week 8 divisional game against the Atlanta Falcons. Irving has been Tampa's most productive back to this point in the season in his first year in the NFL, but his current injury and a bad matchup against Atlanta have his fantasy stock on the decline for this weekend. The 22-year-old will remain involved in a three-man committee backfield along Rachaad White and Sean Tucker when he's healthy, limiting his fantasy appeal as an upside RB3/flex play for the foreseeable future. If Irving is out or limited against Atlanta, Tucker would become a much more intriguing flex option for fantasy managers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie running back Bucky Irving (toe) was absent from a second straight practice this week on Thursday for a toe injury that could definitely impact Sunday's Week 8 contest against the division-rival Atlanta Falcons. Irving's status will likely come down to whether he can practice on Friday. If he cannot, he'll likely be ruled out, which would pave the way for Rachaad White and Sean Tucker to split backfield touches on Sunday. Fantasy managers that have been using the 22-year-old Irving in recent weeks need to start formulating a backup plan, while Tucker wouldn't be a bad waiver-wire pickup as a streaming flex play if Irving is out. In Week 6 with White inactive, Tucker had a season-high 14 carries for 136 yards and a touchdown and also caught three passes for 56 yards and another score.

According to head coach Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Sterling Shepard will be counted on more in the offense in the absence of teammates Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (ankle). Specifically, reporters asked Bowles about Shepard and his familiarity with quarterback Baker Mayfield. "He's been a heck of a receiver in this league when he's healthy," said the Bucs' head coach. "He can make plays all over the field; we've seen that briefly over the last couple of weeks." The chemistry referred to by reporters stems from the time he and Mayfield spent together in college at Oklahoma. Seeing how targets shake out over the coming weeks will be interesting. For what it's worth, the former Oklahoma Sooner played fewer snaps than fellow wideouts Trey Palmer and Jalen McMillan in the team's Week 7 loss. Still, production in this offense will need to come from somewhere, with Godwin done for the year and Evans not projected back until after the team's Week 11 bye.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) underwent an MRI Wednesday that confirmed his "moderate" hamstring injury. According to the NFL's Ian Rapoport, Evans' diagnostic test affirmed the notion that he'd be sidelined until at least the team's Week 11 bye. It's a massive blow to Tampa Bay's offense, as they've also just lost fellow wideout Chris Godwin (ankle) for the remainder of the season after dislocating his ankle. With the Bucs down their top two pass-catchers, wide receivers Jalen McMillan, Sterling Shepherd, and Trey Palmer project to line up in three wide receiver sets. Additionally, tight end Cade Otton and running back Rachaad White should continue to see an increased role in Tampa Bay's passing attack. The team will host the visiting Atlanta Falcons this coming Sunday.