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Tampa Bay Buccaneers · 2026
Who is Bucky Irving’s handcuff?
Explore the full Tampa Bay Buccaneers depth chart, player roles and draft history
The published handcuff answer
Kenny Gainwell
Behind Bucky Irving · TB
Kenny Gainwell is the preferred fantasy handcuff to Bucky Irving in our published Week 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers analysis. This backfield has committee uncertainty, so an absence could split the work between multiple backs.
Gainwell is next up behind Bucky Irving
Handcuff score
Backup opportunity, not projected points or an injury probability.
Analysis published . Status and role notes reflect that board.
Check official availability and your league’s transaction rules before adding.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers backfield overview
If Bucky Irving misses time
Tampa Bay has no running back on today's Week 7 inactive list, so Bucky Irving - who practised in full after missing a session with an illness - Gainwell and Sean Tucker are all dressed against Carolina. Gainwell has been the No. 2 since Tampa Bay's Week 1 chart and again on Oct. 18, and he is the three-down complement who blocks and catches (12 receptions in six games). He is widely rostered and already gone in many leagues; the best lower-rostered fallback in this room is Sean Tucker, free almost everywhere, back to full practice Oct. 21 after a quad issue - but Tucker is the third back whose main route to points is the occasional goal-line plunge, a much thinner path. Projection: Gainwell's share if Irving sat.
No Buccaneers running back is on the Week 7 inactive list. Bucky Irving practised in full after missing a Wednesday session with an illness and carries no designation, and Sean Tucker returned to full practice Oct. 21 after missing Week 6 with a quad injury. Kenny Gainwell stays the No. 2 and the only real insurance for Irving's workload, with Tucker third and Josh Williams off the depth chart. Gainwell is the handcuff to own; Tucker is a situational goal-line dart rather than a replacement-level lead back.
Still the No. 2 behind Bucky Irving - the order on Tampa Bay's Sept. 9 Week 1 chart and the arrangement again Oct. 18, when Sean Tucker's absence pushed Josh Williams up to No. 3 behind the two of them. He is the protection-and-receiving complement, so standalone touches stay modest while Irving is healthy, but with Tucker out he is the only real insurance for Irving's workload.
- availability_unverified
- stale_availability
- irving_illness_this_week
- modest_standalone_touches
- tucker_takes_goal_line_work
Why this candidate scores here
Other candidates in this backfield
Sean Tucker
change of pace · score 43/100
Candidates and scores are from the same published board. A split workload can limit the upside of any one backup.
The production behind the names
2026 regular season. Recorded production, not a projection. A missing stat line is not a zero.
| Player | Games with stats | Carries | Receptions | Total yards | PPR / game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 120 | 18 | 636 | 15.7 |
| 7 | 33 | 12 | 210 | 5.6 |
Carries + receptions, last 6 recorded games in 2026
Carries + receptions, last 6 recorded games in 2026
Totals include all teams played for that season. Per-game averages use games with recorded stats. Source: nflverse player statistics.
Handcuff, backup and next-man-up questions
Who is Bucky Irving’s handcuff?
Kenny Gainwell is the preferred fantasy handcuff to Bucky Irving in our published Week 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers analysis. This backfield has committee uncertainty, so an absence could split the work between multiple backs.
Who is the backup running back behind Bucky Irving?
Kenny Gainwell is the preferred replacement candidate in the published Tampa Bay Buccaneers board. The board lists him at RB2. A fantasy handcuff recommendation and an official depth-chart position can differ; compare the full team chart and role evidence.
Who is next up if Bucky Irving misses a game?
Kenny Gainwell is the preferred fantasy handcuff to Bucky Irving in our published Week 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers analysis. This backfield has committee uncertainty, so an absence could split the work between multiple backs. Other published candidates include Sean Tucker. Tampa Bay has no running back on today's Week 7 inactive list, so Bucky Irving - who practised in full after missing a session with an illness - Gainwell and Sean Tucker are all dressed against Carolina. Gainwell has been the No. 2 since Tampa Bay's Week 1 chart and again on Oct. 18, and he is the three-down complement who blocks and catches (12 receptions in six games). He is widely rostered and already gone in many leagues; the best lower-rostered fallback in this room is Sean Tucker, free almost everywhere, back to full practice Oct. 21 after a quad issue - but Tucker is the third back whose main route to points is the occasional goal-line plunge, a much thinner path. Projection: Gainwell's share if Irving sat.
Should I add Kenny Gainwell as a handcuff?
Consider Kenny Gainwell if you have a spare bench spot and want exposure to the replacement role behind Bucky Irving. His value depends on availability, competition for carries and receiving work, and your league’s roster rules. A handcuff is not automatically a useful starter this week. Review the dated analysis, current injury reports and the next kickoff before adding.
Compare backup running backs and next-man-up candidates for every team. Published depth and scores come from the documented roster, depth-chart and scoring process; they do not establish game-day availability.
Sources behind the analysis
Published analysis may use automated research. How evidence and recommendations are handled.
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