Zero RB Legend Kenny Gainwell Called a “Freak of Nature”
Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs had high praise for new running back Kenny Gainwell, calling him “a freak of nature,” according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Wirfs also referred to running back Bucky Irving as “a joystick” because of how elusive he can be in the open field.
Wirfs is clearly excited about the 1-2 punch Tampa Bay now has in the backfield entering the 2026 season under new offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard, who was promoted internally after Liam Coen departed to become the Jacksonville Jaguars’ head coach.
Even stepping into a new offense, the 27-year-old Gainwell was already a popular mid-round fantasy target in point-per-reception formats this summer, and it’s easy to see why. In his lone season with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025, Gainwell caught an eye-opening 73 passes on 85 targets for 486 yards and three touchdowns across all 17 regular-season games. He paired that with a career-high 114 rushing attempts for 537 yards and a career-high-tying five rushing touchdowns, production that earned him the Steelers’ team MVP award as voted by his own teammates.
Gainwell signed a two-year, $14 million deal with Tampa Bay this offseason, and while fantasy managers shouldn’t necessarily expect him to replicate that exact passing-game volume in a new offense, he still profiles as a strong weekly RB3/flex option given his proven receiving chops. Much of his target volume in Pittsburgh came from a version of Aaron Rodgers who leaned heavily on quick, safe throws to the flat, a very different profile than what Baker Mayfield typically offers, but Gainwell’s role as a complementary receiving back behind Irving should still translate reasonably well.
He could be busy right away, too. Tampa Bay opens the season against the Cincinnati Bengals in a game that some expect could push the score and the pace higher than the Buccaneers would ideally like, a scenario that often means more checkdowns and receiving work for a back like Gainwell.
