Reconsidering Bucky Irving, Bhayshul Tuten For Fantasy Football 2026

We’ve spent most of this week dissecting the current ADP landscape for RBs.

We’ve grappled with the tricky price for TreVeyon Henderson and circled Jonathon Brooks as a potential Zero-RB savior in the double-digit rounds.

But two new premium targets are now emerging in Round 5 thanks to recent news …

🤯 Bucky’s Back?? Remember when Todd Bowles said it could be “summer…or fall” when Bucky Irving returned to action? Well, apparently he meant late-spring because Irving returned to practice yesterday for the first time this offseason. It’s an undeniably great development after what seemed like an ominous quote.

Fantasy spin: Bucky had been slipping routinely to late Round 5 and early Round 6 of late, but I’m willing to ditch the “falling knife” tag for him after this encouraging development. Target aggressively for as long as his price hovers in this range. FWIW, I still prefer guys like David Montgomery and this next guy over him …

🚂 Toot Toot. At times the Bhayshul Tuten hype train has felt like an exercise in wishcasting from the fantasy community—myself included. He was one of my favorite picks last year, but it never fully materialized with Travis Etienne holding onto the job.

But the tides are changing because not only is Etienne gone, but his only real competition for touches—Chris Rodriguez—is now hurt. The severity of the injury is very ambiguous (he had a procedure of some sort on his left foot), as is the timeline.

Fantasy spin: Tuten is a screaming buy in Round 5 right now and I wouldn’t fault you for taking him in that same late-Round 4 range as Hendo. He has the runway to steal this job if Rodriguez’s injury remains an issue for the offseason.

QB WITH COMMANDING PRESENCE LEADS THE WAY

Fantasy Life Rankings Updated All Offseason

With the NFL Draft behind us, depth charts are “mostly” set. So the Fantasy Life crew has updated the rankings so we can all get an idea where some of our favorite players will get drafted this summer. And they’ll be updated as news breaks.

Are you taking Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs 1.01? See what the rankings say.

TAKE ME TO THE FANTASY LIFE RANKINGS

Around the Watercooler

Your favorite football nerds are back and bringing you the latest news, content and memes from the NFL universe …

💪 Matthew’s not the only one who has Faith in 5. Party like it’s 2024.

🤝 The Chiefs make a move. Hey, don’t complain, a trade is a trade.

👻 When you get past Terry, the WR room is pretty scary.

🤔 Trying hard to figure out this backfield. Not quite a coin flip.

🚀 Could this Year 2 WR take a leap? Sounds like it.

🙌 TE with No. 2 target potential on his team, going in the late rounds. Yes, please.

💍 The Broncos renewed their vows. All in on Sean Payton.

🤦 This is an example of coachspeak that I would ignore. Two bell cows?

😎 A healthy Cam Skattebo, makes more than Kendall happy.

✄ Cut this former top TE? Unfortunately, makes sense.

😰 The new normal. What, us worry?

BTJ On The Rise After Showing Out At OTAs

Tell us if you’ve heard this one before. Former fantasy stud player has a down year, causing rankers and the community to keep him at arm’s length when discussing drafting him for the coming season. Then some positive camp news comes out in the offseason, making fantasy managers to remember the good times and reconsider drafting him. That’s Brian Thomas Jr., and you better believe that positive coachspeak is going to bring up his price. Could he still be a bargain come draft time? Justin Carlucci puts Liam Coen’s comments under a microscope, and for another player who could also start to climb in ADP. ⤵️

THE MUCH-NEEDED ALPHA FOR A YOUNG QB

👀 3 RB Committee Battles to Watch

Selecting the right RB to emerge from a crowded backfield may just be more fun than grabbing an every-week start off the waiver wire after a Week 1 blowup. We remember big hits from the middle rounds like Austin Ekeler in 2019. Heck, Javonte Williams was an afterhought in most drafts as so many people were singing the praises of, um … oh yeah, Jaydon Blue. Now Williams has a new contract, nominal competition and is an underrated bell cow RB. There are at least three different teams that have muddy backfield situations, and Kody Malstrom breaks down whether a clear winner could emerge from these committees. ⤵️

1ST-ROUND PICK HAS SOME COMPANY

AFC West Is Loaded With Fantasy Goodness

Just imagine what the AFC West will look like when Patrick Mahomes and Bo Nix are healthy, which could be the Broncos-Chiefs Week 1 matchup. Both teams have new offensive weapons, and the Chargers could get a jolt from OC Mike McDaniel. Even the Raiders have Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty to give us some fantasy fun. Kendall, Ian and Dwain break down the AFC West. Subscribe to the Fantasy Life Show channel so you don’t miss an episode. ⤵️

DRAFT FIRST: WALKER, JEANTY OR HAMPTON?

Published Jun 12, 2026, 7:00 AM ET