Head to Head

Updated June 3, 2026 from live stats

Kenneth Gainwell vs Woody MarksWho should you start in 2026 fantasy football?

Kenneth Gainwell is the better fantasy start for 2026, averaging 10.9 PPG to Woody Marks's 8.3 in 2025. Full head to head breakdown below.

The Bottom Line

Kenneth Gainwell is the better fantasy play this season.

Kenneth Gainwell has the edge, but it is not a runaway. The 2.6-PPG advantage is real (10.9 to 8.3), and Kenneth Gainwell's 8 touchdowns show scoring upside. Woody Marks is the buy-low candidate if recent production has dipped, because the talent gap is smaller than the numbers suggest.

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

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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

RBHouston Texans#36

Woody Marks

PPG

8.3

Games

Rush Yds

703

Rush TDs

Rec

Rec Yds

208

Bye

Week 8

The Edge Chart

Kenneth Gainwell

Woody Marks

Head to Head

10.9 PPG8.3 PPG

17 GP16 GP

Bye: Week 9Bye: Week 8

Fantasy Tiers

Kenneth Gainwell: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #26 at the position). Woody Marks: Tier 4 (Bench/Bye Fill) RB (ranked #36 at the position). Among the top 50 running backs this season, Kenneth Gainwell is producing at 50% of elite pace and Woody Marks at 38%. That ranking gap means Kenneth Gainwell carries more trade value and a higher draft cost in 2026.

Kenneth Gainwell vs Woody Marks: The Full Breakdown

Kenneth Gainwell and Woody Marks 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 Woody Marks posted 8.3 PPG in 16 appearances for the Houston Texans.

A 2.6-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 Woody Marks profiles as a more traditional rusher with 703 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: Kenneth Gainwell sits Week 9 while Woody Marks is off Week 8. If you are deciding between the two as a season-long roster hold, the staggered byes actually work in your favor.

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: Kenneth Gainwell (age 27) is approaching the age where RB production historically drops. Sell-high window is open. Woody Marks (age 25) has not yet hit the RB cliff. High dynasty ceiling if volume holds.

Did You Know?

•Kenneth Gainwell outscored Woody Marks by a projected 44 total fantasy points over a full 17-game season.
•Kenneth Gainwell played 17 games in 2025 compared to Woody Marks's 16. 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 Woody Marks: 2025 fantasy football stat comparison in the half-PPR scoring format.
Stat	Kenneth Gainwell	Woody Marks
PPG (Half-PPR)	10.9	8.3
Games Played	17	16
Total Fantasy Pts (est.)	185	133
Rushing Yards	537	703
Rush Yds/Game	31.6	43.9
Rushing TDs	5	2
Receptions	73	24
Receiving Yards	486	208
Targets	85	36
Total TDs	8	5
Age	27	25
Experience	4 yrs	-
Bye Week	Week 9	Week 8

Summary

Kenneth Gainwell outscored Woody Marks by 2.6 PPG in 2025 (10.9 to 8.3). 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 Woody Marks in fantasy football?▾

Based on 2025 season averages, Kenneth Gainwell has the edge at 10.9 PPG compared to Woody Marks's 8.3 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 Woody Marks average in 2025?▾

Kenneth Gainwell averaged 10.9 fantasy points per game (half-PPR) across 17 games in 2025. Woody Marks averaged 8.3 PPG over 16 games. That is a difference of 2.6 points per game.

When are Kenneth Gainwell and Woody Marks's bye weeks in 2026?▾

Kenneth Gainwell (PIT) has a bye in Week 9, and Woody Marks (HOU) has a bye in Week 8. Plan your roster accordingly if you are carrying both players.

Is Kenneth Gainwell or Woody Marks a better fantasy running back in 2026?▾

Kenneth Gainwell outscored Woody Marks by 2.6 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.