Kenny Gainwell Fantasy Stats

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell has the potential to be a value pick at his current ADP of 88.9. He's being selected in the eighth round of fantasy drafts as the 32nd running back off the board. The Bucs signed Gainwell to join a backfield that also features Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker. While Irving is the clear No. 1 running back here, we expect to see Gainwell get plenty of volume, similar to his role with the Steelers in 2025. In Pittsburgh, he handled 114 carries and 73 receptions (187 touches) while teammate Jaylen Warren had 211 carries and 40 catches (254 touches). When all was said and done, the two backs combined for 441 touches, but Warren only had 67 more than Gainwell. It doesn't seem like the Bucs signed Gainwell to be solely a third-down back. Yes, he'll fetch plenty of targets, but he'll also get some early-down and goal-line work to offer a change of scenery and keep Irving fresh. In this type of role last year, Gainwell ranked as the RB16 in PPR leagues. He's the RB37 in RotoBaller's redraft rankings for 2026, but we wouldn't be shocked to see him finish as a top-24 fantasy back in PPR leagues for the second year in a row.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenny Gainwell is not practicing on Friday, as indicated by Pewter Report. Gainwell has drawn praise from the local beat as a training camp standout, with offensive coordinator Zac Robinson recently telling reporters, "He is super versatile, and he is great with the ball in his hands," adding, "we will continue to find out where we can put him in the best spots." Gainwell's 73 receptions were the fourth most by a running back in 2025, and assuming his absence is not a prolonged one, he could step seamlessly into Rachaad White's vacated pass-catching role that has allowed for at least 50 receptions in three of the last four seasons. How much additional work he sees on the ground remains to be seen, but at RotoBaller's RB36, Gainwell is a potential late-round sleeper who could thrive in Robinson's wide zone offense.

During Friday's training camp practice, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving saw most of the first-team work, with Kenny Gainwell "primarily utilized as a receiver out of the backfield," according to Adam Slivon of PewterReport.com. Gainwell was quarterback Baker Mayfield's primary checkdown option out of the backfield as well, which is where he thrived last year with the Pittsburgh Steelers and veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers, catching a career-high 73 passes for 489 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 85 targets in 17 regular-season games. Rachaad White is no longer in Tampa, but the Bucs signed the 27-year-old Gainwell to a two-year, $14 million contract to help complement Irving. Irving should be Tampa's primary early-down back, but there are signs that the Buccaneers want to manage his workload after a down sophomore season in 2025 due to ankle and shoulder injuries. Gainwell is primarily a pass-catching back, but he has also averaged 4.4 yards per carry as a runner in his five NFL seasons, and he probably won't strictly be a third-down option for head coach Todd Bowles. The former fifth-rounder in 2021 by the Philadelphia Eagles is an ascending RB3/flex play (more valuable in PPR leagues) as he enters his first year in Tampa.

Veteran running back Kenny Gainwell led the Pittsburgh Steelers with 73 receptions in 2025 on his way to an RB20 finish, and in signing a two-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this offseason, he inherits a role that saw Rachaad White average nearly 56 targets per year over the past four seasons. After splitting the Steelers' backfield with do-it-all back Jaylen Warren, he will now form a tandem with third-year pro Bucky Irving, another player capable of contributing both on the ground and through the air. Irving struggled through an injury-marred sophomore campaign and was not present for minicamp as he recovered from offseason shoulder surgery. The expectation is that he will return at some point during training camp, but with his timeline still not fully clear, Gainwell could have the opportunity to build an early chemistry with the first-team offense when padded practices commence at the end of the month. At RotoBaller's RB36, Gainwell's standalone receiving work will keep him in the weekly flex conversation, but if at any point he's tasked with handling a larger role, he could prove to be a steal in 2026 drafts.

The Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud doesn't think the Tampa Bay Buccaneers want to give running back Bucky Irving 15-plus carries again in 2026 due to injury concerns. When discussing newcomer Kenneth Gainwell, who was the MVP of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense last year, Stroud said, "That's not backup money. I think they will go with the hot hand." The Bucs signed Gainwell to a two-year, $14 million contract in free agency in March after the 27-year-old had a career year in 2025 in the Steel City, carrying the ball 114 times for 537 yards (4.7 yards per carry) and five touchdowns while catching 73 passes for 486 yards and three touchdowns on 85 targets as a pass-catcher in 17 regular-season games (two starts). Tampa's offense is switching to more outside zone as well, which could favor Gainwell in his new digs. It's obviously bad news for Irving and his fantasy stock going into 2026 after he played in just 10 games due to injuries in Year 2. Fantasy managers should target the 23-year-old as more of an RB3/flex than a legitimate RB2, with Gainwell gaining steam as an RB3/flex with more appeal in PPR leagues.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenneth Gainwell has been a standout in his team's offense during OTAs, per Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report. Gainwell is entering his first season in Tampa after signing a two-year, $14 million contract with the team in free agency. The 27-year-old put together a breakout season with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, recording 1,023 yards from scrimmage and eight touchdowns on 187 touches across 17 games. Gainwell recorded 73 catches on 85 targets last season, and Reynolds reports that he has "excelled as a receiver out of the backfield" early on with the Bucs. Entering 2026, Gainwell appears to be carving out a 1B role alongside the 1A in the Tampa Bay backfield, Bucky Irving.

With Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (shoulder) sidelined during OTAs this offseason, newcomer Kenneth Gainwell is standing out and "making the most of his extra reps," according to Scott Reynolds of Pewter Report. Gainwell is serving as Tampa's RB1 with Irving sidelined, and not Sean Tucker. The 27-year-old has proven to be "reliable and instinctive" in all phases of the game after having a career year in 2025 in his lone season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, carrying the ball 114 times for 537 yards (4.7 yards per tote) and five touchdowns in 17 regular-season games (two starts). Gainwell added a career-best 73 receptions on 85 targets for 486 receiving yards and three receiving TDs in 2025. The former fifth-rounder by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021 out of the University of Memphis has made a strong first impression with the Bucs, but with Irving expected to be fine for the start of the 2026 regular season, it's going to be tough for Gainwell to be as productive as he was a year ago. As long as both Irving and Tucker are healthy, Gainwell will be part of a crowded backfield with a new offensive coordinator at the helm in Tampa. Gainwell still carries plenty of value in PPR leagues, but fantasy managers shouldn't overspend for an RB who should be considered more of an RB3/flex every week.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenneth Gainwell is coming off a breakout season in 2025, as he recorded 1,023 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns on 187 touches across 17 games as a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tampa Bay rewarded Gainwell for his efforts, signing him to a two-year contract in free agency to form a backfield tandem with Bucky Irving (shoulder). Much of Gainwell's production in Pittsburgh came as a receiver out of the backfield, as he hauled in 73 receptions for 486 yards and three touchdowns on 85 targets. While Gainwell should still be involved in the passing game with the Buccaneers, he'll no longer have the benefit of playing with Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers targeted running backs at an extremely high rate in 2025, allowing Gainwell to rack up PPR fantasy points with consistency. Additionally, a bounce-back season from Irving could lead to a reduced role for Gainwell. Irving battled through injuries and inconsistency in 2025, but he flashed high-end upside as a rookie in 2024, averaging 5.4 yards per carry and collecting over 1,500 yards from scrimmage. In dynasty formats, managers may want to explore selling high on Gainwell after his career year.

New Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Zac Robinson said that running backs Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell "can match each other" in terms of their similar skill sets out of the backfield, according to FOX Sports' Greg Auman. The Bucs let Rachaad White walk in free agency this offseason, but they added Gainwell to their RB room after the 27-year-old broke out with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025 with 114 carries for 537 yards and five touchdowns, adding 73 receptions (85 targets) for 486 yards and three more TDs as a pass-catcher in 17 regular-season games. Irving only played in 10 games in his second NFL season due to injuries, but the 23-year-old was efficient as a pass-catcher as well, recording 277 yards and three TDs on his 30 receptions. As long as he stays on the field, Irving is expected to be utilized as Tampa's lead back in 2026, with Gainwell serving in the third-down, pass-catching role. Both will be fantasy relevant, with Irving ranking as RotoBaller's No. 16 dynasty RB, and Gainwell checking in as the No. 45 RB. In PPR leagues, Gainwell will be much more expensive after ranking fifth among RBs in catches.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenneth Gainwell put together the most productive season of his career while playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, recording 1,023 scrimmage yards and eight touchdowns on 187 touches across 17 games. Gainwell emerged as a security blanket for Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the passing game, finishing the year with 73 catches for 486 yards and three touchdowns on 85 targets. The Bucs rewarded Gainwell with a two-year contract in free agency, and he now projects as the 1B option in the Tampa Bay backfield behind Bucky Irving. Gainwell may not see as many targets from Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield as he did from Rodgers, which would hurt his fantasy production. However, Gainwell should still play a role in the Tampa Bay passing game and could emerge as the team's go-to option in short-yardage and goal-line situations. Irving also has to be considered an injury risk after missing seven games with foot and shoulder injuries in 2025. Gainwell's dynasty value would have benefited more had he signed somewhere as a clear starter, but his stock is still up following his breakout 2025 season in Pittsburgh.