Kenneth Gainwell — 2026 Fantasy Outlook

Gainwell's rookie season was marked by inconsistent playing time from week to week. When he did get volume, he delivered, putting together starting-caliber fantasy outings in six games (12.30, 20.90, 15.10, 19.70, 18.70, and 16.50 PPR points). But across his other 12 games, he managed just 27 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown, along with 12 catches for 115 yards. His full-season totals came to 544 combined yards, six touchdowns, and 33 receptions.

Philadelphia largely phased running backs out of the passing game in 2022, and Gainwell's numbers reflected it (409 combined yards, four touchdowns, and 23 catches) for the year. His lone fantasy-relevant performance (12 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown, plus one catch for nine yards) came in the team's playoff opener.

2023 brought a career-high workload of 114 touches, but the production didn't follow, just 547 combined yards, two touchdowns, and 30 catches on the season, with only two games topping the 10-point fantasy threshold (11.40 and 10.90).

His role shrank further in 2024, hitting career lows in both touches (91) and yards per carry (3.9). Across his entire career, Gainwell has broken off a 20-yard play just five times, and 2024 ended without a single usable fantasy performance.

The switch to the Steelers’ offense led to Gainwell becoming a fantasy football asset for the first time in his career last season. He flashed in a start in London (19/99/2 with six catches for 35 yards) in Week 4, giving Pittsburgh more confidence to give him the ball at a higher rate across their final nine games (68/337/2 – 5.0 yards per carry with 48 catches for 389 yards and three more scores). From Week 11 to Week 16, Gainwell produced five playable outcomes (29.50, 18.20, 16.20, 19.60, 23.80 in PPR fantasy scoring).

In the early draft season in the high-stakes market, Gainwell ranks 27th at running back with a late seventh-round ADP (82). Possible 150 touches, leading to 850 combined yards and a handful of touchdowns.