Value.

NFL teams have 53 players on active rosters. That’s 1,696 guys on 32 teams.

So Seth Walder of BSPN, a man who never met a number he didn’t like, has decided to try to cobble together the top-100 most valuable players.

As always, “value” is not “best.” In theory, the best player could be on the Bears but since the Bears don’t win, how valuable is the guy? You mean the Bears couldn’t be in last place without him?

Believe it or not, Walder has a rookie in his top-100. And this rookie is a Bucs rookie, Bucky Irving, ranked at No. 84.

In Joe’s mind, Bucky is right there in value on the Bucs offense with Mike Evans and Baker Mayfield.

Think about it: Would the Bucs have won the division, or made the playoffs without Bucky? Unlikely.

In 2022 and 2023, the Bucs had the worst NFL rushing attack. That didn’t change dramatically because the Bucs stuck with underperforming Rachaad White. (Yes, Joe knows hardcore White truthers believe, damn the non-production and damning stats, he’s the next Tony Dorsett and you just don’t know any better.)

This season’s rushing attack exploded to fourth-best in the NFL from 32nd because of Bucky, plain and simple. All of a sudden, defenses had to respect it, which helped Mayfield and Evans.

You cannot deny the numbers. And Bucky’s numbers speak for themselves.