Who Should I Start? Kenny Gainwell or Rhamondre Stevenson
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Kenny Gainwell News
Friday, June 26, 7:14 PM
The Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud doesn't think the Tampa Bay Buccaneers want to give running back Bucky Irving 15-plus carries again in 2026 due to injury concerns. When discussing newcomer Kenneth Gainwell, who was the MVP of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense last year, Stroud said, "That's not backup money. I think they will go with the hot hand." The Bucs signed Gainwell to a two-year, $14 million contract in free agency in March after the 27-year-old had a career year in 2025 in the Steel City, carrying the ball 114 times for 537 yards (4.7 yards per carry) and five touchdowns while catching 73 passes for 486 yards and three touchdowns on 85 targets as a pass-catcher in 17 regular-season games (two starts). Tampa's offense is switching to more outside zone as well, which could favor Gainwell in his new digs. It's obviously bad news for Irving and his fantasy stock going into 2026 after he played in just 10 games due to injuries in Year 2. Fantasy managers should target the 23-year-old as more of an RB3/flex than a legitimate RB2, with Gainwell gaining steam as an RB3/flex with more appeal in PPR leagues.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Rhamondre Stevenson News
Tuesday, June 23, 5:49 AM
New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson was able to overcome early-season fumbling concerns in 2025 and led the team in running back snaps on his way to a very usable RB25 finish, despite missing three games. While calls for a TreVeyon Henderson breakout are growing louder and easier to buy into, there's a world where the 2025 second-round pick takes his game to a stratospheric level without meaningfully impacting Stevenson. In what will be quarterback Drake Maye's second full season as a starter, there is a sense around the team that he has taken ownership of Josh McDaniels' offense, and with New England acquiring A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs to go with Mack Hollins and Kayshon Boutte, they could boast the most physically imposing receiver room in the league. Having spent a first-round pick to shore up the offensive line after making free agent investments at fullback and tight end, this appears to be a unit looking for creative ways to adopt a bully-ball persona. In what should remain one of the league's most efficient and explosive offenses, there's a realistic possibility for both backs to crack 1,000 yards from scrimmage while pushing for double-digit touchdowns, and at RotoBaller's RB28, Stevenson remains a value in the middle rounds of 2026 drafts.
Kenny Gainwell vs. Rhamondre Stevenson
Still trying to decide between Gainwell and Stevenson? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Kenny Gainwell is projected to score 0.0 points this week while Rhamondre Stevenson is projected to score 0.0 points.
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