Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Kenneth Gainwell vs Trey McBrideWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Trey McBride is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 14.9 PPG to Kenneth Gainwell's 10.9 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Trey McBride is the better fantasy play this season.

Cross-position decisions depend on league format. In half-PPR, Trey McBride (14.9 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.

Moderate confidence: stats favor the leader, but matchup variance could flip this weekly.

Want this verdict updated live on Sunday?

Track Kenneth Gainwell and Trey McBride in the DraftCall app and get their updates the moment they change.

Get the App

RBPittsburgh Steelers#26

Kenneth Gainwell

PPG

10.9

Games

Rush Yds

537

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

486

Bye

Week 9

TEArizona Cardinals#1PPG LEADER

Trey McBride

PPG

14.9

Games

Rec

126

Rec Yds

1,239

Rec TDs

Targets

169

Bye

Week 14

The Edge Chart

Kenneth Gainwell

Trey McBride

Head to Head

10.9 PPG14.9 PPG

17 GP17 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 14

Fantasy Tiers

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

Kenneth Gainwell vs Trey McBride: The Full Breakdown

Comparing Kenneth Gainwell (RB, Pittsburgh Steelers) against Trey McBride (TE, Arizona Cardinals) means weighing two different roles in your fantasy lineup. Kenneth Gainwell averaged 10.9 PPG in 2025 over 17 games, while Trey McBride posted 14.9 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.

Kenneth Gainwell has his bye in Week 9, Trey McBride in Week 14. Plan your FLEX rotation around those weeks, especially if either player is anchoring your roster.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Trey McBride at a discount because your league-mates undervalue tight end production, do it. Kenneth Gainwell is a reasonable sell-high candidate if his recent games have spiked above his season average. Dynasty outlook: Kenneth Gainwell (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Trey McBride (age 26) is in the middle of his productive window. Stable dynasty value.

Did You Know?

•Trey McBride outscored Kenneth Gainwell by a projected 68 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Trey McBride scored 11 total touchdowns in 2025 (0.6 per game), making him one of the more reliable scoring options at tight end.
•Trey McBride caught 126 passes in 2025. Pass-catching backs average 2-3 more PPG in half-PPR than their non-receiving counterparts.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Kenneth Gainwell vs Trey McBride: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Kenneth Gainwell	Trey McBride
PPG (Half-PPR)	10.9	14.9
Games Played	17	17
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	185	253
Rushing Yards	537	0
Rush Yds/Game	31.6	0.0
Rushing TDs	5	0
Receptions	73	126
Receiving Yards	486	1,239
Targets	85	169
Total TDs	8	11
Age	27	26
Experience	4 yrs	3 yrs
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 14

Summary

Trey McBride outscored Kenneth Gainwell by 4.0 PPG in 2025 (14.9 to 10.9). That production gap is the baseline, but weekly context shifts the answer. DraftCall analyzes matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and health data to deliver a clear start or sit recommendation backed by real reasoning.

Website vs App

Get the AI verdict on Kenneth Gainwell vs Trey McBride

DraftCall's AI analyzes matchup quality, recent trends, injury impact, and game script to give you a clear start/sit recommendation.

See everything in the app →

Launch List

Get the live verdict on Kenneth Gainwell vs Trey McBride

The DraftCall app delivers live game-day verdicts on every matchup. Join the launch list and we will email you the day it goes live for the 2026 NFL season, with your direct iOS and Android install links.

We will never share your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Kenneth Gainwell or Trey McBride in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Trey McBride has the edge at 14.9 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 Kenneth Gainwell and Trey McBride average in 2025?▾

Kenneth Gainwell averaged 10.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Trey McBride averaged 14.9 PPG over 17 games. That is a difference of 4.0 points per game.

When are Kenneth Gainwell and Trey McBride's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Kenneth Gainwell (PIT) has a bye in Week 9, and Trey McBride (ARI) has a bye in Week 14. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.