Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Kenneth Gainwell vs Ty ChandlerWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Kenneth Gainwell is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.9 PPG to Ty Chandler's 5.9 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. Ty Chandler (5.9 PPG) is a hold, not a sell, but roster Kenneth Gainwell as the starter and Ty Chandler as depth.

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

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RBPittsburgh Steelers#26PPG LEADER

Kenneth Gainwell

PPG

10.9

Games

Rush Yds

537

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

486

Bye

Week 9

RBMinnesota Vikings#99

Ty Chandler

PPG

5.9

Games

Rush Yds

265

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

135

Bye

Week 6

The Edge Chart

Kenneth Gainwell

Ty Chandler

Head to Head

10.9 PPG5.9 PPG

17 GP14 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 6

Fantasy Tiers

Kenneth Gainwell: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #26 at the position). Ty Chandler: Tier 5 (Deep League) RB (ranked #99 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Kenneth Gainwell is producing at 50% of elite pace and Ty Chandler at 27%. That ranking gap means Kenneth Gainwell carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Kenneth Gainwell vs Ty Chandler: The Full Breakdown

Kenneth Gainwell and Ty Chandler are both viable fantasy running backs heading into 2026, but their 2025 production tells two different stories. Kenneth Gainwell averaged 10.9 PPG across 17 games with the Pittsburgh Steelers, while Ty Chandler posted 5.9 PPG in 14 appearances for the Minnesota Vikings.

A 5.0-PPG gap gives Kenneth Gainwell the edge on paper, but paper does not account for Thursday night matchups, weather games, or a star defender returning from injury. The real question is not who was better in 2025, but who is the better start this specific week.

Kenneth Gainwell is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 73 targets into 486 yards, while Ty Chandler profiles as a more traditional rusher with 265 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.

Kenneth Gainwell has his bye in Week 9, and Ty Chandler rests in Week 6. Managers rostering both need waiver wire depth at running back for those two weeks, and that is exactly the kind of planning DraftCall's matchup engine surfaces automatically so you are not scrambling on a Sunday morning.

Trade Value + Dynasty Outlook

If you can acquire Kenneth Gainwell at a discount because your league-mates undervalue running back production, do it. Ty Chandler 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. Ty Chandler (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open.

Did You Know?

•Kenneth Gainwell outscored Ty Chandler by a projected 85 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kenneth Gainwell played 17 games in 2025 compared to Ty Chandler's 14. 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.

Detailed Stat Breakdown

Kenneth Gainwell vs Ty Chandler: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Kenneth Gainwell	Ty Chandler
PPG (Half-PPR)	10.9	5.9
Games Played	17	14
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	185	83
Rushing Yards	537	265
Rush Yds/Game	31.6	18.9
Rushing TDs	5	2
Receptions	73	18
Receiving Yards	486	135
Targets	85	0
Total TDs	8	3
Age	27	-
Experience	4 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 6

Summary

Kenneth Gainwell outscored Ty Chandler by 5.0 PPG in 2025 (10.9 to 5.9). 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Should I start Kenneth Gainwell or Ty Chandler in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kenneth Gainwell has the edge at 10.9 PPG compared to Ty Chandler's 5.9 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 Ty Chandler average in 2025?▾

Kenneth Gainwell averaged 10.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Ty Chandler averaged 5.9 PPG over 14 games. That is a difference of 5.0 points per game.

When are Kenneth Gainwell and Ty Chandler's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Kenneth Gainwell (PIT) has a bye in Week 9, and Ty Chandler (MIN) has a bye in Week 6. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Kenneth Gainwell or Ty Chandler a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Kenneth Gainwell outscored Ty Chandler by 5.0 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.