Sean Tucker exploded onto the scene with a massive performance in Week 6, with 192 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns. Can he keep this up, and what is his dynasty outlook for this season and beyond?
Dynasty Outlook for Sean Tucker
College Career
Tucker had a terrific college career in three seasons with the Syracuse Orange. He topped 1000 rushing yards in each of his final two seasons, including leading the ACC with 1496 rushing yards in 2021. He also caught 56 passes in his final two seasons combined. By the end of his college tenure, he ranked third on the all-time rushing yards leaderboard at Syracuse, cementing his legacy as one of the program’s top running backs.
NFL Draft
Through all this success, Tucker did not compete at the Syracuse Pro Day or the Scouting Combine. It was later learned that he had an undiagnosed heart condition. This led to Tucker going undrafted, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him as an undrafted free agent to a three-year deal after the 2023 NFL Draft. If he participated in the combine, many believed he would have been drafted, as he has the talent to be a successful NFL running back. The heart condition scared teams off.
2023 Rookie Season
Tucker’s debut season in the NFL started with promise, as he received touches in his first three games with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, his performance was disappointing, totaling just 15 carries for 23 rushing yards during that span. Despite the initial opportunities, his inefficiency with the carries led to him not receiving any further touches for the remainder of the season.
2024 Season
Tucker’s prospects for playing time took a hit when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted rookie Bucky Irving in the 2024 NFL Draft to complement Rachaad White in the backfield. With Irving’s arrival, Tucker entered the season as the third-string running back and primarily contributed on special teams. In the first five weeks, he only had two rushing attempts.
Then, White was ruled out for Week 6, which gave Tucker a chance to showcase his talent, and he made the most of his opportunity. He had 14 rushes for 136 yards and one rushing touchdown to pair with three catches for 56 yards and one receiving touchdown. He finished the day with 34.2 fantasy points, and only Chris Godwin scored more fantasy points than Tucker in Week 6 (pre-MNF).
2024 Rest of Season Outlook
Despite Tucker’s impressive performance in Week 6, Irving scored 18.5 fantasy points and played more snaps than Tucker. Both running backs excelled against the Saints, showcasing the effectiveness of the Buccaneers’ rushing attack. However, it’s important to note that White’s injury is not considered long-term, and he is expected to return soon, possibly for Week 7.
While White struggled with efficiency last year and earlier in the 2024 season, he showed improvement in Weeks 4 and 5, totaling 121 yards on 20 carries, averaging over six yards per carry. White’s job is somewhat secure for now, especially since he and Irving were already sharing the workload in the backfield prior to his injury, with White getting ten carries to Irving’s nine in Week 5.
When White returns, all three of White, Irving, and Tucker will see carries. I expect each of White and Irving to see about 40-45% of the RB carries, while Tucker will see 10-20%. It will be hard for Tucker to have any standalone value without another injury to White and/or Irving. Tucker earned more playing time this season, but it is not enough to be a consistent starter in fantasy. However, he becomes an immediate pickup in all dynasty leagues, as he has a very high ceiling if he can see a similar workload later this year.
#Bucs HC Todd Bowles on whether Sean Tucker’s performance has now turned the backfield into a three-headed monster:
“It’s definitely worthy of him making it a three-headed monster. He took advantage of his opportunities… He made some great plays, he caught the ball well out of… pic.twitter.com/lBfwteWMbn
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) October 14, 2024
Sean Tucker Future Seasons Dynasty Outlook
White has one more season left on his contract, while Irving is under contract for three more years, and Tucker has one year remaining. It will be challenging for Tucker to secure a significant role in the offense next year unless the Buccaneers decide to part ways with White, which seems unlikely. However, Tucker is only 22 years old and will enter free agency at 24 with limited carries on his resume. This makes him an attractive, budget-friendly option for teams looking for a young running back. While that scenario is still two years away, Tucker’s impressive performance has likely earned him more touches for the remainder of his career, regardless of how the rest of this season unfolds.
Conclusion
Tucker holds value this year and next primarily as a handcuff running back behind White and Irving. If given the opportunity to play, Tucker has shown he possesses significant talent and a high ceiling. He’s worth rostering in all dynasty leagues as a stash, but fantasy managers shouldn’t invest heavily in FAAB for him. Additionally, competing dynasty teams in 2024 may not have a roster spot to spare for Tucker. However, he is an excellent waiver wire pickup for rebuilding teams, as Sean Tucker has a bright dynasty outlook. Regardless of how the rest of the season unfolds, it’s safe to say that Tucker is #PL34SED with his performance last week.
Im pleased with my performance#PL34SED #PL44SED #TampaStrong pic.twitter.com/0Tuj0jFzhr
— Sean Tucker (@seantucker2020) October 14, 2024
Main Image: Matthew Hinton – USA Today Sports
