Gainwell's Workload Climbs in Tampa Bay Backfield
Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles says Kenneth Gainwell's usage is nearing the role the team planned when it signed him.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Football
Tampa Bay running back Kenneth Gainwell carried 25 times in a run-heavy Week 8 win over the Falcons and played 50 percent of the snaps in the prior week. Head coach Todd Bowles said his usage is getting closer to the 1A/1B role the team envisioned at signing.
Why it matters
The increase signals a shift in how the Buccaneers distribute backfield touches, which affects the workload and value of the team's running backs. Fantasy managers and team observers will be watching whether the role holds.
Gainwell has logged at least 14 carries in each of his last two games, and his 25-carry effort against Atlanta came in a run-heavy script. His passing-game involvement has stayed low, and the source does not say whether the change is permanent.
The players
Todd Bowles
Bowles is the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a role he has held as the team's leader on the sideline and in game-planning decisions.
Kenneth Gainwell
Gainwell is a running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who has been seeing a growing share of the backfield workload.
Bucky Irving
Irving is a Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back who handled most of the backfield touches during the first six weeks of the season.
The details
Bowles described Gainwell's usage as moving toward the 1A/1B split the team had in mind when it signed him. Bucky Irving had most of the backfield touches from Weeks 1 through 6, and the shift toward Gainwell came in a game where Tampa Bay leaned on the run.
Timeline
Weeks 1-6: Bucky Irving receives the majority of backfield touches.
Week 8: Gainwell carries 25 times against the Falcons.
Prior week: Gainwell plays 50 percent of the snaps for the first time this season.
Season Trajectory
The shift follows the Buccaneers' original 1A/1B plan for Gainwell, which stalled while Irving carried the early-season backfield. The change could reshape how the team's running game is divided through the rest of the season.
Fantasy managers should expect Irving to keep the majority of backfield touches, while Gainwell's carries rise in run-heavy games. His low passing-game usage limits his value in point-per-reception formats.
The takeaway
Watch the carry and snap counts from Gainwell and Irving over the next several games to see whether the planned split holds. Shifts like this often reveal how a coaching staff values each back's role.
Further reading
For more on the Buccaneers' backfield picture, see Football coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NBC Sports.
