Kenneth Gainwell vs Zonovan Knight: Who Should You Start?
Two running backs who will land on plenty of the same rosters in 2026. Kenneth Gainwell (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) finished the 2025 season averaging 10.9 fantasy points per game in 17 games. Zonovan Knight (Arizona Cardinals) came in at 6.8 PPG over 12 games. The gap is real but not insurmountable with the right matchup.
Kenneth Gainwell carries a 4.1-point PPG advantage from the 2025 season. That baseline matters, but it is one input among several. Matchup difficulty, scoring trends, and injury reports move the needle week to week, which is why the best answer changes depending on when you are asking.
Kenneth Gainwell is the receiving back in this matchup, turning 73 targets into 486 yards, while Zonovan Knight profiles as a more traditional rusher with 269 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns. In PPR and half-PPR formats Kenneth Gainwell carries the higher weekly floor. In standard leagues the gap tightens considerably.
One thing to note: both players share a Week 11 bye. That means you need a backup plan at running back for that week, especially if one of these two is your starter.
