Chase Brown vs Kenneth Gainwell: Who Should You Start?
Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Chase Brown (Cincinnati Bengals) finished the 2025 season averaging 14.6 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.
Chase Brown carries a 3.7-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. Chase Brown caught 69 balls for 437 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.
One scheduling note: Chase Brown is off Week 12 and Kenneth Gainwell Week 11. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in running back for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.
