Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Derrick Henry vs Kenneth GainwellWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Derrick Henry is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 16.0 PPG to Kenneth Gainwell's 10.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Derrick Henry is the better fantasy play this season.

Derrick Henry is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 16.0 PPG and 1,745 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Kenneth Gainwell (10.9 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Derrick Henry as the starter and Kenneth Gainwell as depth.

High confidence: stats strongly favor the leader, and the gap is unlikely to close on matchup alone.

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RBBaltimore Ravens#7PPG LEADER

Derrick Henry

PPG

16.0

Games

Rush Yds

1,595

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

150

Bye

Week 13

RBPittsburgh Steelers#26

Kenneth Gainwell

PPG

10.9

Games

Rush Yds

537

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

486

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

Derrick Henry

Kenneth Gainwell

Head to Head

16.0 PPG10.9 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 13Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Derrick Henry: Tier 2 (Strong Starter) RB (ranked #7 at the position). Kenneth Gainwell: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #26 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Derrick Henry is producing at 73% of elite pace and Kenneth Gainwell at 50%. That ranking gap means Derrick Henry carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Derrick Henry vs Kenneth Gainwell: The Full Breakdown

Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Derrick Henry (Baltimore Ravens) finished the 2025 season averaging 16.0 fantasy points per game in 17 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.

Derrick Henry carries a 5.1-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 Derrick Henry profiles as a more traditional rusher with 1595 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Kenneth Gainwell carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.

Derrick Henry has his bye in Week 13, 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

If you can acquire Derrick Henry at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Kenneth Gainwell is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Derrick Henry (age 32, 9 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?

•Derrick Henry outscored Kenneth Gainwell by a projected 87 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Derrick Henry scored 16 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.9 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 5 years younger than Derrick Henry (27 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Derrick Henry vs Kenneth Gainwell: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Derrick Henry	Kenneth Gainwell
PPG (Half-PPR)	16.0	10.9
Games Played	17	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	272	185
Rushing Yards	1,595	537
Rush Yds/Game	93.8	31.6
Rushing TDs	16	5
Receptions	15	73
Receiving Yards	150	486
Targets	21	85
Total TDs	16	8
Age	32	27
Experience	9 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 13	Week 9

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Derrick Henry holds the PPG edge with solid output at 16.0 points per game. Kenneth Gainwell averaged 10.9 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 Derrick Henry or Kenneth Gainwell in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Derrick Henry has the edge at 16.0 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 Derrick Henry and Kenneth Gainwell average in 2025?▾

Derrick Henry averaged 16.0 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Kenneth Gainwell averaged 10.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.1 points per game.

When are Derrick Henry and Kenneth Gainwell's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Derrick Henry (BAL) has a bye in Week 13, and Kenneth Gainwell (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Derrick Henry or Kenneth Gainwell a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Derrick Henry outscored Kenneth Gainwell by 5.1 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.