Ashton Jeanty vs Kenneth Gainwell: Who Should You Start?
Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Ashton Jeanty (Las Vegas Raiders) finished the 2025 season averaging 12.8 fantasy points per game in 17 games. Kenneth Gainwell (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) came in at 10.9 PPG over 17 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.
Ashton Jeanty carries a 1.9-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.
Both are three-down backs with real passing-game roles. Ashton Jeanty caught 55 balls for 346 yards, and Kenneth Gainwell hauled in 73 for 486. That receiving workload gives them high PPR floors even in games where the ground attack gets stuffed, and it is why both stay on the field in obvious passing situations.
Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Ashton Jeanty sits Week 10 while Kenneth Gainwell is off Week 11. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.
