Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

D'Andre Swift vs Kenneth GainwellWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

D'Andre Swift is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 13.2 PPG to Kenneth Gainwell's 10.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

D'Andre Swift is the better fantasy play this season.

D'Andre Swift has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.3-PPG advantage is real (13.2 to 10.9), and D'Andre Swift's 10 touchdowns show scoring upside. Kenneth Gainwell 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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RBChicago Bears#16PPG LEADER

D'Andre Swift

PPG

13.2

Games

Rush Yds

1,087

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

299

Bye

Week 10

RBPittsburgh Steelers#26

Kenneth Gainwell

PPG

10.9

Games

Rush Yds

537

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

486

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

D'Andre Swift

Kenneth Gainwell

Head to Head

13.2 PPG10.9 PPG

16 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 10Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

D'Andre Swift: Tier 3 (Flex/Starter) RB (ranked #16 at the position). Kenneth Gainwell: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #26 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, D'Andre Swift is producing at 60% of elite pace and Kenneth Gainwell at 50%. That ranking gap means D'Andre Swift carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

D'Andre Swift vs Kenneth Gainwell: The Full Breakdown

D'Andre Swift and Kenneth Gainwell are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. D'Andre Swift averaged 13.2 PPG across 16 games with the Chicago Bears, while Kenneth Gainwell posted 10.9 PPG in 17 appearances for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A 2.3-PPG gap gives D'Andre Swift the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Kenneth Gainwell is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 73 targets into 486 yards, while D'Andre Swift profiles as a more traditional rusher with 1087 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Kenneth Gainwell carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

D'Andre Swift has his bye in Week 10, 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: D'Andre Swift (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Kenneth Gainwell (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•D'Andre Swift outscored Kenneth Gainwell by a projected 39 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kenneth Gainwell played 17 games in 2025 compared to D'Andre Swift's 16. That durability gap means Kenneth Gainwell contributed more total fantasy points even before you look at per-game averages.
•D'Andre Swift scored 10 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

D'Andre Swift vs Kenneth Gainwell: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	D'Andre Swift	Kenneth Gainwell
PPG (Half-PPR)	13.2	10.9
Games Played	16	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	211	185
Rushing Yards	1,087	537
Rush Yds/Game	67.9	31.6
Rushing TDs	9	5
Receptions	34	73
Receiving Yards	299	486
Targets	48	85
Total TDs	10	8
Age	27	27
Experience	5 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 10	Week 9

Summary

D'Andre Swift outscored Kenneth Gainwell by 2.3 PPG in 2025 (13.2 to 10.9). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start D'Andre Swift or Kenneth Gainwell in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, D'Andre Swift has the edge at 13.2 PPG compared to Kenneth Gainwell's 10.9 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 D'Andre Swift and Kenneth Gainwell average in 2025?▾

D'Andre Swift averaged 13.2 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 16 games in 2025. Kenneth Gainwell averaged 10.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 2.3 points per game.

When are D'Andre Swift and Kenneth Gainwell's bye weeks in 2026?▾

D'Andre Swift (CHI) has a bye in Week 10, and Kenneth Gainwell (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is D'Andre Swift or Kenneth Gainwell a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

D'Andre Swift outscored Kenneth Gainwell by 2.3 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.