Locked On Fantasy Football – Daily NFL Fantasy Football Podcast · Locked On Podcast Network, Michelle Magdziuk, Vinnie Iyer

Bucky Irving, Brock Bowers, Tyrone Tracy Jr., Blake Corum & MORE: Fantasy THIRD-YEAR RB & TE outlook for 2026

·28 min·2 clips

Why is Bucky Irving ranked as RB14 for 2026 despite two underwhelming seasons and injury struggles?

This episode focuses on projecting the 2026 fantasy football value for running backs and tight ends from the 2024 NFL draft class. Hosts Michelle Magdziuk, a researcher for NFL Network, and Vinny Iyer, a writer for SportingNews.com, analyze players entering their third professional season. They specifically examine players whose second years were impacted by injury or opportunity, forecasting their potential rebounds or breakouts. The hosts begin with Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving, who finished as the RB18 in 2025 after a strong rookie half. His consensus ranking for 2026 is RB14, buoyed by the arrival of offensive coordinator Zach Robinson from Atlanta and the potential departure of free agent Rachaad White. They compare Irving's projected role to Bijan Robinson's in Atlanta, with Sean Tucker potentially handling short-yardage work. Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders is discussed next, having finished as the TE1 in his rookie year and TE4 in points per game during an injury-marred second season. His outlook is tied to new head coach Clint Kubiak's offense and the potential for increased red-zone usage, especially if quarterback Fernando Mendoza targets him heavily. Blake Corum of the Los Angeles Rams saw his usage surge late in the season, averaging 12.4 fantasy points from Weeks 13-18. The analysis questions if he will maintain a standalone role alongside Kyren Williams or primarily serve as a high-value handcuff. New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson is highlighted as a sleeper after a second-year leap where he led the team in receiving touchdowns. His connection with quarterback Jackson Dart and the potential for more 12-personnel sets under Matt Nagy's offense boost his profile. The show also touches on Arizona Cardinals running back Trey Benson, whose value would spike if James Conner is released, and Seattle Seahawks tight end A.J. Barner, who showed promise as the team's second receiver and could benefit from a new offensive coordinator from the 49ers' system. A key insight is that Irving's early 2025 production, when healthy, actually placed him as the RB8 through Week 14, suggesting his full-season ranking was dragged down by team-wide offensive struggles. The hosts find Bowers' consistent points-per-game output between his first two seasons notable, indicating his floor remains high despite injuries. For Corum, the dramatic split in his production before and after Week 13 makes his 2026 role one of the biggest backfield mysteries. Johnson's late-round draft cost is considered a major value if he becomes a top target in a Giants offense potentially lacking established weapons. The discussion reveals that in tight end rankings, Bowers is viewed as the clear TE2 behind only Trey McBride, with George Kittle and Tucker Kraft's injury recoveries creating a potential tier gap. Magdziuk personally prefers the draft cost of a tight end like Colston Loveland, who can be selected several rounds later than Bowers. Iyer suggests that if both Kyren Williams and Blake Corum are drafted at their current ADPs, managers could successfully start both in favorable matchups based on their 2025 usage pattern. The tone is analytical and conversational, blending statistical review with speculative roster construction advice for the upcoming season. The style is educational, aimed at giving fantasy players a data-driven edge in future drafts by evaluating year-over-year trends and coaching changes. Fantasy managers preparing for 2026 drafts and those who prioritize identifying post-hype sleepers and injury bounce-back candidates will find this episode valuable. Listeners seeking immediate advice for the 2025 season or those uninterested in deep-dive projections on specific mid-tier running backs and tight ends may want to skip it.

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