Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Aaron Jones vs Kenneth GainwellWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Kenneth Gainwell is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.9 PPG to Aaron Jones's 8.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Kenneth Gainwell is the better fantasy play this season.

Kenneth Gainwell has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.2-PPG advantage is real (10.9 to 8.7), and Kenneth Gainwell's 8 touchdowns show scoring upside. Aaron Jones is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

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RBMinnesota Vikings#34

Aaron Jones

PPG

8.7

Games

Rush Yds

548

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

199

Bye

Week 6

RBPittsburgh Steelers#26PPG LEADER

Kenneth Gainwell

PPG

10.9

Games

Rush Yds

537

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

486

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Aaron Jones

Kenneth Gainwell

Head to Head

8.7 PPG10.9 PPG

12 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 6Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Aaron Jones: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #34 at the position). Kenneth Gainwell: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #26 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Aaron Jones is producing at 40% of elite pace and Kenneth Gainwell at 50%. That ranking gap means Kenneth Gainwell carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Aaron Jones vs Kenneth Gainwell: The Full Breakdown

Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Aaron Jones (Minnesota Vikings) finished the 2025 season averaging 8.7 fantasy points per game in 12 games. Kenneth Gainwell (Pittsburgh Steelers) came in at 10.9 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.

Kenneth Gainwell carries a 2.2-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.

Kenneth Gainwell is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 73 targets into 486 yards, while Aaron Jones profiles as a more traditional rusher with 548 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Kenneth Gainwell carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

Aaron Jones has his bye in Week 6, and Kenneth Gainwell rests in Week 9. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

Both are in a similar trade value range. A straight swap would be fair in most leagues, with the tiebreaker going to whichever manager values schedule or bye week more. Dynasty outlook: Aaron Jones (age 31, 8 years) is past the typical RB peak. Redraft value exceeds dynasty value. Kenneth Gainwell (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Kenneth Gainwell outscored Aaron Jones by a projected 37 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kenneth Gainwell played 17 games in 2025 compared to Aaron Jones's 12. That durability gap means Kenneth Gainwell contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•Kenneth Gainwell scored 8 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.5 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at running back.
•Kenneth Gainwell caught 73 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.
•Kenneth Gainwell is 4 years younger than Aaron Jones (27 vs 31), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Aaron Jones vs Kenneth Gainwell: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Aaron Jones	Kenneth Gainwell
PPG (Half-PPR)	8.7	10.9
Games Played	12	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	104	185
Rushing Yards	548	537
Rush Yds/Game	45.7	31.6
Rushing TDs	2	5
Receptions	28	73
Receiving Yards	199	486
Targets	41	85
Total TDs	3	8
Age	31	27
Experience	8 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 6	Week 9

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Kenneth Gainwell holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 10.9 points per game. Aaron Jones averaged 8.7 PPG. Season averages are a starting point, not the final word. For a full AI analysis factoring matchup quality, recent form, injury impact, and game script, download DraftCall and get a verdict backed by real data.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Aaron Jones or Kenneth Gainwell in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kenneth Gainwell has the edge at 10.9 PPG compared to Aaron Jones's 8.7 PPG. However, the best start depends on weekly matchup, recent form, and injury status. DraftCall's app provides real-time AI-powered verdicts that factor in all of these variables.

How many fantasy points did Aaron Jones and Kenneth Gainwell average in 2025?▾

Aaron Jones averaged 8.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 12 games in 2025. Kenneth Gainwell averaged 10.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.2 points per game.

When are Aaron Jones and Kenneth Gainwell's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Aaron Jones (MIN) has a bye in Week 6, and Kenneth Gainwell (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Aaron Jones or Kenneth Gainwell a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Kenneth Gainwell outscored Aaron Jones by 2.2 PPG in 2025, which gives him the edge heading into 2026. For a week-by-week verdict, DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality and recent trends in real time.