Kenneth Gainwell

Gainwell rushed the ball four times for 15 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 27-22 win over the Ravens. He added six receptions on seven targets for 27 yards.

Warren's eight carries led the Pittsburgh backfield, as Kenneth Gainwell had four rushes for 15 yards and a touchdown. Gainwell was second on the team with six targets, but it was Warren who had a 38-yard screen pass touchdown in the second half. Warren remains the nominal lead back for the run-first Steelers, but Gainwell's route running involvement and his red zone usage puts a damper on Warren's weekly upside. Warren, averaging 13.8 rushes per game, will be a top-24 running back next week against the Dolphins.

Gainwell continued operating as the Steelers' primary pass-catching back, seeing the second most targets among Pittsburgh players behind DK Metcalf (12). Gainwell ran a pass route on 19 of the team's 36 drop backs while Jaylen Warren had 16 routes and four receptions on four targets, including a touchdown. Gainwell entered Week 14 as the seventh most targeted running back in the NFL. Gainwell's role in the Steelers offense has kept him viable in PPR formats. He should remain a flex play in 14-team formats next week against the Dolphins, who have been generous to pass catchers out of the backfield in 2025.

It's not exactly news that old-school Tomlin desires a return to old-school, run-based, low-scoring football as a way to get the Steelers out of the rut they find themselves in headed into Week 14 against the Ravens. But a real commitment to a tough nosed, presumably run-heavy offensive approach should mean more touches for Jaylen Warren and perhaps Kenneth Gainwell. It might mean more involvement for Darnell Washington, who is very large and physical. The Steelers rank 18th in pass rate over expected this season, and inside the ten yard line they are the 12th pass-heaviest team. Both Warren and Gainwell should be fantasy viable if Tomlin is serious about a reestablishment of physicality.

Gainwell rushed the ball five times for 20 yards in Sunday's 26-7 loss to the Bills. He added two receptions on three targets for 25 yards.