Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

George Kittle vs Kenneth GainwellWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

George Kittle is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 12.1 PPG to Kenneth Gainwell's 10.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

George Kittle is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, George Kittle (12.1 PPG) is the higher-floor play. Kenneth Gainwell (10.9 PPG) could win a specific week on touchdown variance. For FLEX spots, lean toward the player with the softer defensive matchup that week rather than defaulting to season averages.

Low confidence: the production gap is narrow enough that weekly context matters more than the season line.

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TESan Francisco 49ers#3PPG LEADER

George Kittle

PPG

12.1

Games

Rec

Rec Yds

628

Rec TDs

Targets

Bye

Week 8

RBPittsburgh Steelers#26

Kenneth Gainwell

PPG

10.9

Games

Rush Yds

537

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

486

Bye

Week 9

The Edge Chart

George Kittle

Kenneth Gainwell

Head to Head

12.1 PPG10.9 PPG

11 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 8Bye: Week 9

Fantasy Tiers

George Kittle: Tier 1 (Elite) TE (ranked #3 at the position). Kenneth Gainwell: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #26 at the position). Comparing across positions, raw PPG is less useful than positional scarcity. A Tier 1 (Elite) TE is harder to replace on waivers than a Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB in most league formats.

George Kittle vs Kenneth Gainwell: The Full Breakdown

Comparing George Kittle (TE, San Francisco 49ers) against Kenneth Gainwell (RB, Pittsburgh Steelers) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. George Kittle averaged 12.1 PPG in 2025 over 11 games, while Kenneth Gainwell posted 10.9 PPG across 17 games.

Cross-position FLEX decisions cannot be made on PPG alone. Positional scarcity, matchup quality, floor versus ceiling, and league scoring format all shift the answer. A 14 PPG tight end in a thin TE week is often worth more than a 16 PPG receiver in a deep WR week, because the opportunity cost on the waiver wire is wildly different.

DraftCall's AI engine weighs all of these signals and returns a verdict with clear reasoning, so you are not cross-referencing four different rankings tabs on a Sunday morning.

George Kittle has his bye in Week 8, Kenneth Gainwell in Week 9. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

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: George Kittle (age 32) is in the later years of production. Still a redraft asset, but dynasty value is declining. Kenneth Gainwell (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•George Kittle outscored Kenneth Gainwell by a projected 20 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kenneth Gainwell played 17 games in 2025 compared to George Kittle's 11. 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 saw 85 targets in 2025. Target volume is the single strongest predictor of weekly PPR production at the tight end position.
•Kenneth Gainwell is 5 years younger than George Kittle (27 vs 32), which significantly impacts dynasty league trade value.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

George Kittle vs Kenneth Gainwell: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	George Kittle	Kenneth Gainwell
PPG (Half-PPR)	12.1	10.9
Games Played	11	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	133	185
Rushing Yards	-3	537
Rush Yds/Game	-0.3	31.6
Rushing TDs	0	5
Receptions	57	73
Receiving Yards	628	486
Targets	69	85
Total TDs	7	8
Age	32	27
Experience	8 yrs	4 yrs
Bye Week	Week 8	Week 9

Summary

Based on 2025 production, George Kittle holds the PPG edge with serviceable output at 12.1 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 George Kittle or Kenneth Gainwell in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, George Kittle has the edge at 12.1 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 George Kittle and Kenneth Gainwell average in 2025?▾

George Kittle averaged 12.1 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 11 games in 2025. Kenneth Gainwell averaged 10.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 1.2 points per game.

When are George Kittle and Kenneth Gainwell's bye weeks in 2026?▾

George Kittle (SF) 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.