Who Should I Start? Kenneth Gainwell or Phil Mafah

Thursday, March 26, 6:29 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers new running back Kenneth Gainwell broke out in 2025 in his fifth year in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers, carrying the ball 114 times for 537 yards (4.7 yards per carry) and five rushing touchdowns. But where he made his mark was in the short passing game for the Steelers, catching 73 passes (fourth-most among RBs) on 85 targets for 486 yards (fifth-most among RBs) and three additional touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. The 27-year-old signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Buccaneers in free agency and will essentially replace Rachaad White, who is now in Washington, as the No. 2 back in Tampa behind early-down RB Bucky Irving. He's an ideal complement to Irving in the backfield, but Irving should continue to catch his fair share of passes, too, if he remains healthy. Gainwell should have a solid PPR floor in his new home as the team's pass-catching back, but fantasy managers should prepare for regression from what could very easily end up being his career year in 2025.