Kenny Gainwell Fantasy Week 2 Start or Sit: Depth Only, Not a Flex

Week 2 for Kenny Gainwell in fantasy football involves a decision to either start or sit him, with the consensus being depth rather than a flex choice. He had one target in a game that yielded 60 total points, which doesn't bode well for his standing behind Bucky Irving with Cleveland's upcoming match. Gainwell currently ranks 36th among running backs in PFN’s Week 2 rankings.

For now, he is a player held for depth purposes, not a flex decision. The speculation was that Gainwell's role with the Steelers would be directly proportional, which made sense before Irving's health status became clear. However, after receiving clean health reports, the ADP movement around this backfield has been minimal, suggesting a possible oversight.

With the assumption that Gainwell was brought in as a security blanket for Baker Mayfield, it would have been expected that he would have had more targets in a game with 60 total points scored. Instead, Irving capitalized on his opportunities, accumulating seven targets for seven catches and 48 yards. Irving also fielded the red-zone opportunities (Sean Tucker DNP) and acted as the leak-out option for Mayfield.

While Gainwell possesses similar skills, he was drafted as a standalone value rather than a backup plan, indicating that his current standing is not optimal. It is advised to keep an eye on this backfield, as the coaching staff can make unpredictable moves. For now, Gainwell remains a depth option rather than a flex choice. Gainwell is ranked 36th among running backs in Week 2, trailing Quinshon Judkins, Blake Corum, Tony Pollard, Jonathon Brooks, Tyler Allgeier, and others.