Who Should I Start? Kenneth Gainwell or Elijah Mitchell

Sunday, May 31, 11:20 AM

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.