Bucky Irving, Christian Watson, and Renardo Green headline NFC under-the-radar Week 5 stars
This article highlights three lesser-known NFC players who stood out in Week 5 of the 2026 NFL season. Bucky Irving rushed for 165 yards in Tampa Bay’s win over Dallas, Christian Watson caught two deep touchdowns against Chicago, and Renardo Green intercepted Sam Darnold twice. The piece is part of SB Nation’s series on under-the-radar NFL performers.
Bucky Irving, a third-year Buccaneers running back and former fourth-round pick from Oregon, carried 21 times for 165 yards in Tampa Bay’s 24-16 Thursday win at Dallas. He gained 120 yards after contact, averaged 7.86 yards per carry, and forced 11 missed tackles. The Cowboys entered with the league’s worst defense, allowing 4.77 yards per carry.
Tampa Bay started undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels because Baker Mayfield was injured, making a strong run game important. Irving’s 72-yard third-quarter run helped define his career day. Christian Watson caught two deep touchdowns against Chicago, while Renardo Green intercepted Sam Darnold twice. SB Nation’s Secret Superstars series highlights such under-the-radar NFC performers.
Count words. First para: Bucky(1) Irving(2), a(3) third-year(4) Buccaneers(5) running(6) back(7) and(8) former(9) fourth-round(10) pick(11) from(12) Oregon(13), carried(14) 21(15) times(16) for(17) 165(18) yards(19) in(20) Tampa(21) Bay’s(22) 24-16(23) Thursday(24) win(25) at(26) Dallas(27). He(28) gained(29) 120(30) yards(31) after(32) contact(33), averaged(34) 7.86(35) yards(36) per(37) carry(38), and(39) forced(40) 11(41) missed(42) tackles(43). The(44) Cowboys(45) entered(46) with(47) the(48) league’s(49) worst(50) defense(51), allowing(52) 4.77(53) yards(54) per(55) carry(56). Second: Tampa(57) Bay(58) started(59) undrafted(60) rookie(61) Jalon(62) Daniels(63) because(64) Baker(65) Mayfield(66) was(67) injured(68), making(69) a(70) strong(71) run(72)
Fantasy football managers and NFL fans may reassess Bucky Irving, Christian Watson, and Renardo Green after these Week 5 showings. Irving’s rushing volume and Watson’s deep scores could affect waiver claims, trade values, and start/sit choices, while Green’s interceptions may raise his profile in deeper IDP leagues. Local fanbases and media could also give more attention to players who usually receive less coverage. The broader effect may be modest, since one strong week does not guarantee lasting production, but it can shape short-term expectations and online discussion. Count: Fantasy(1) football(2) managers(3) and(4) NFL(5) fans(6) may(7) reassess(8) Bucky(9) Irving(10), Christian(11) Watson(12), and(13) Renardo(14) Green(15) after(16) these(17) Week(18) 5(19) showings(20). Irving’s(21) rushing(22) volume(23) and(24) Watson’s(25) deep(26) scores(27) could(28) affect(29) waiver(30) claims(31), trade(32) values(33), and(34) start/sit(35) choices(36), while(37) Green’s(38) interceptio