Kenneth Gainwell vs Travis Etienne: Who Should You Start?
Deciding between Kenneth Gainwell and Travis Etienne is a common lineup dilemma for fantasy managers. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back put up 10.9 PPG in 2025 over 17 games; Travis Etienne of the New Orleans Saints averaged 13.9 in 17. A 3.0-point margin that could shift on any given week.
The per-game difference of 3.0 points favors Travis Etienne, though savvy managers know that gap can shrink or widen depending on the weekly slate. Defensive matchup, recent scoring trends, and health status all shift the calculus from one running back to the other.
Kenneth Gainwell is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 73 targets into 486 yards, while Travis Etienne profiles as a more traditional rusher with 1107 rushing yards and 7 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Kenneth Gainwell carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.
One scheduling note: Kenneth Gainwell is off Week 11 and Travis Etienne Week 12. If these two are on your roster, you will need a fill-in running back for both weeks. DraftCall flags bye conflicts so you can plan ahead rather than panic on waivers.
