Kenny Gainwell Fantasy Hype?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kenneth Gainwell has emerged as a potential sleeper to draft in fantasy football this year, and now, quarterback Baker Mayfield is singing his praises. “He is much more than a gadget guy,” Mayfield said about Gainwell, who signed a two-year, $14 million deal with the Bucs this offseason after a season in Pittsburgh. “I’ve been completely overwhelmed with the amount of talent he has.”
Mayfield didn’t stop there, adding that Gainwell reads his blocks “really well” and calling him a “huge” addition to a Tampa Bay offense that ranked just 21st in total rushing a year ago. It’s a notable endorsement from a quarterback who’s shown he’s willing to lean on versatile weapons in the backfield and passing game alike.
The stats back up Mayfield’s praise. Gainwell caught 73 passes for 486 yards with the Steelers last season, a reception total that trailed only Christian McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson, and Jahmyr Gibbs among all running backs in the league. That kind of receiving role, paired with his ability to still contribute as a runner, is exactly the “much more than a gadget guy” skill set Mayfield described.
The Bucs signed Gainwell to join a backfield that also features Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker. While Irving is clearly the No. 1 back in Tampa Bay, there’s real reason to expect Gainwell will see plenty of volume, similar to the complementary role he played behind Jaylen Warren in Pittsburgh last season. In 2025, Gainwell handled 114 carries and 73 receptions for 187 total touches, while Warren led the Steelers backfield with 211 carries and 40 catches for 251 touches. The two backs combined for 438 touches on the season, with Warren’s workload only outpacing Gainwell’s by 64 touches, a much closer split than the traditional lead-back/backup dynamic might suggest.
Don’t be surprised if Gainwell ends up playing a similar complementary role behind Irving in Tampa Bay. If he sees anywhere near the volume he did in Pittsburgh, especially given his standing as one of the league’s most productive pass-catching backs, there’s a real path for him to once again finish as a fantasy-relevant option, even working in a timeshare rather than as a true lead back.
