Devin Neal vs Kenneth Gainwell: Who Should You Start?
Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Devin Neal (New Orleans Saints) finished the 2025 season averaging 5.2 fantasy points per game in 10 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.
Kenneth Gainwell carries a 5.7-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.
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 12 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.
