Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Devin Neal vs Kenneth GainwellWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Kenneth Gainwell is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.9 PPG to Devin Neal's 5.7 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Kenneth Gainwell is the better fantasy play this season.

Kenneth Gainwell is clearly the better fantasy option heading into 2026. With 10.9 PPG and 1,023 total yards in 2025, the production separation is too wide to overcome on matchup alone. Devin Neal (5.7 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Kenneth Gainwell as the starter and Devin Neal as depth.

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

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RBNew Orleans Saints#57

Devin Neal

PPG

5.7

Games

Rush Yds

206

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

104

Bye

Week 8

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

Devin Neal

Kenneth Gainwell

Head to Head

5.7 PPG10.9 PPG

9 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

Devin Neal: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #57 at the position). Kenneth Gainwell: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #26 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Devin Neal is producing at 26% 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.

Devin Neal vs Kenneth Gainwell: The Full Breakdown

Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Devin Neal (New Orleans Saints) finished the 2025 season averaging 5.7 fantasy points per game in 9 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 5.2-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 Devin Neal profiles as a more traditional rusher with 206 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.

Bye weeks matter for roster construction: Devin Neal sits Week 8 while Kenneth Gainwell is off Week 9. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Kenneth Gainwell at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Devin Neal is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Devin Neal (age 22) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds. Kenneth Gainwell (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Kenneth Gainwell outscored Devin Neal by a projected 88 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kenneth Gainwell played 17 games in 2025 compared to Devin Neal's 9. 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.
•Devin Neal is 5 years younger than Kenneth Gainwell (22 vs 27), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Devin Neal vs Kenneth Gainwell: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Devin Neal	Kenneth Gainwell
PPG (Half-PPR)	5.7	10.9
Games Played	9	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	51	185
Rushing Yards	206	537
Rush Yds/Game	22.9	31.6
Rushing TDs	2	5
Receptions	17	73
Receiving Yards	104	486
Targets	19	85
Total TDs	2	8
Age	22	27
Experience	-	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 9

Summary

Based on 2025 production, Kenneth Gainwell holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 10.9 points per game. Devin Neal averaged 5.7 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 Devin Neal or Kenneth Gainwell in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kenneth Gainwell has the edge at 10.9 PPG compared to Devin Neal's 5.7 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 Devin Neal and Kenneth Gainwell average in 2025?▾

Devin Neal averaged 5.7 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 9 games in 2025. Kenneth Gainwell averaged 10.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 5.2 points per game.

When are Devin Neal and Kenneth Gainwell's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Devin Neal (NO) has a bye in Week 8, and Kenneth Gainwell (PIT) has a bye in Week 9. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Devin Neal or Kenneth Gainwell a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Kenneth Gainwell outscored Devin Neal by 5.2 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.