Who Should I Start? Kenneth Gainwell or Julius Chestnut

Sunday, August 3, 10:13 AM

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin praised running back Kenneth Gainwell's versatility as both a rusher and a receiver, saying that Gainwell has a "well-rounded game." Mike DeFabo of The Athletic writes that Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has been deploying Gainwell "in a variety of roles, including outside at receiver." Gainwell signed a one-year contract with Pittsburgh this offseason after spending the first four years of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles. In 17 games last year with Philadelphia, he recorded 406 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown on 91 total touches. Gainwell figures to be part of a Steelers' backfield committee that also features Jaylen Warren and rookie third-rounder Kaleb Johnson. Arthur Smith has shown a preference for utilizing multiple running backs in the past, and it sounds like Gainwell's usage could cut into the fantasy production for both Warren and Johnson.

Wednesday, September 3, 9:43 AM

Tennessee Titans running back Julius Chestnut has been listed as the team's RB2 to start the season. With Tyjae Spears opening the year on injured reserve, the fourth-year back holds the backup role ahead of 2025 sixth-round pick Kalel Mullings. Through his first three seasons, Chestnut has appeared in 26 games, recording just 31 carries for 114 yards, but now steps into an expanded opportunity. Chestnut will serve as the primary backup behind veteran Tony Pollard until Spears returns. While he remains a non-factor for fantasy purposes, especially in a tough Week 1 matchup against the Denver Broncos' defense, this promotion reflects Chestnut's growth within the organization and solidifies his place on the Titans' depth chart.