2026 · WEEK 5 CLOSE
$710−5.2%1W−44%SINCE '26 DRAFTHIGH $1,269
AGE27Mar 14, 1999
EXP5 yrssince 2021
HEIGHT5'9"
inherits 8% of TB carries (32% vacated, his claim 23%); inherits 3% of TB targets (44% vacated, his claim 6%)
Gainwell rushed four times for 18 yards and brought in three of four targets for 10 yards in the Buccaneers' 24-16 win over the Cowboys on Thursday night.
Gainwell logged his highest carry total since Week 1 and parlayed it into a new season high in rushing yards. The veteran change-of-pace back also tied his season best in receptions and recorded multiple catches for the fourth straight game, but over his first five contests in Tampa Bay, Gainwell's overall role is markedly less robust than the one he filled during his lone Steelers season in 2025. As such, his fantasy value is undeniably capped heading into a Week 5 home matchup against Pittsburgh on Sunday, Oct. 18.
Gainwell rushed three times for five yards in Sunday's 17-14 loss to the Packers. He added two catches for 22 yards and a touchdown on two targets.
Gainwell was out-snapped 36 to 26 by Bucky Irving, who also handled 16 carries to Gainwell's three in Jalon Daniels' first career start at quarterback. Gainwell was the only running back to see a target out of the backfield for Tampa Bay, and he scored his first touchdown of 2026 with a 10-yard catch in the fourth quarter. Averaging just 5.25 touches per game, Gainwell isn't a recommended fantasy target in a broken Tampa Bay offense.
Gainwell turned three carries into minus-four yards and added two catches on five targets for 14 yards in Sunday's 23-16 loss to the Vikings. He also returned six kickoffs for 160 yards and added a tackle.
Everyone sharing the ball with Kenny, most valuable first.
Above the line the plan was to throw; below it, to run.
Gainwell is now averaging just 2.1 yards per carry through the first three games of the regular season. He was utilized heavily as a pass catcher with the Steelers in 2025, but so far he has only six receptions (on 10 targets) for 22 yards. His 32 snaps on offense was slightly fewer than Bucky Irving (36), but the scoring floor of Gainwell and the rest of the Buccaneers' skill players will likely be lower for at least the next three weeks without Baker Mayfield (thumb) at the helm. Undrafted free agent Jalon Daniels will be the Bucs' QB1 in Mayfield's absence, starting with a Week 4 home tilt against the Packers this Sunday.
Gainwell is one of three running backs on Tampa Bay's 53-man roster, along with Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker (undisclosed), the latter of whom didn't practice Wednesday, per Greg Auman of Fox Sports.
Gainwell signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Buccaneers in March after leading the Steelers with 73 catches in the 2025 regular season. He's likely to fill a change-of-pace role while playing primarily in passing situations, much like Rachaad White did for the past couple seasons in a Buccaneers backfield that's expected to be led by Irving as long as the latter stays healthy. Tucker could be a thorn in the side of both Gainwell and Irving from a fantasy perspective if Tucker reprises his red-zone role from 2025, which helped him punch in a team-high seven rushing touchdowns.
The RBs priced immediately above and below him.
