Week 16 of the 2025 NFL season continues on this afternoon with a battle of two teams fighting for playoff positioning as the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the Detroit Lions at 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS.
Kenneth Gainwell start or sit: Week 16 fantasy football advice
We break down the fantasy football outlook of Kenneth Gainwell ahead of the Steelers’ Week 16 matchup vs. the Lions.
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The Steelers were able to pick up a 28-15 victory over the Dolphins last Monday and successfully maintained their one-game lead on the Ravens at the top of the AFC North standings. Running back Kenneth Gainwell played a huge role in that winning effort and we’ll see if he can run it back with another strong performance today.
Below, we’ll go over Gainwell’s outlook in fantasy football for Week 16.
Fantasy Football analysis: Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell
Gainwell was present and active in their primetime victory over the Dolphins on Monday night, toting the rock 13 times for 80 rushing yards on the ground and catching all seven of his targets for 46 receiving yards through the air. With Jaylen Warren dealing with an illness, the fifth-year veteran actually got the majority of the workload out of the backfield and it marked the third time this season where he got double-digit carries.
Gainwell’s pass-catching abilities has made him a top-20 RB in PPR leagues heading into Week 16 and he’s actually sixth among his peers in receiving. He’s averaging 12.1 fantasy points per game in this scoring format, but he’ll have a challenge on his hands to get there this afternoon. The Lions have allowed the second-least receiving yards in the entire league ahead of this matchup, so we’ll see if Aaron Rodgers, Gainwell, and company can get their usually reliable short passing game going.
Start or sit in Week 16?
Start. Even if his carries on the ground dwindle with Warren at full healthy, I still trust Gainwell to get enough touches to leave a mark on the game. You’re not a top-20 fantasy RB this late in the year by accident.
