Kevin Szafraniec details the prospects for the Buccaneers’ backfield this season following Tampa Bay’s signing of Kenneth Gainwell in free agency.
Tampa Bay’s 2025 season was one to forget for multiple reasons. Chief among them was a deteriorating offense that had ranked among the NFL’s elite just a year earlier. While the passing game had its own problems to deal with, the running game was dealt a huge blow as 2024 rookie standout Bucky Irving missed a large chunk of the season with injury.
Tampa Bay is attempting to put 2025 in the rearview as quickly as possible. The transformation started at the top with the hiring of a new offensive coordinator. Then, at the opening of free agency, the Buccaneers signed dynamic running back Kenneth Gainwell to a two-year, $14.0M contract to serve as a running mate for Irving in 2026. On the surface, the fit is a bit odd, given that both backs have similarly slight builds and potentially overlapping skill sets. Things get even more convoluted with the potential return of Sean Tucker, forming a three-man backfield rotation.
Will there be enough touches to go around for all of the Tampa Bay backs, or is this a situation that fantasy managers should be steering clear of in 2026?
Be sure to check out the rest of our series on the top landing spots from free agency!
Quarterbacks
- Malik Willis: Miami’s Hope or All Hype?
- Will Kevin O’Connell Work His Magic With Kyler Murray in 2026?
Running Backs
- Signing Kenneth Walker was Step 1 in the Chiefs’ Rebuilding Plan
- Does Travis Etienne Still Have Top-12 Upside in New Orleans?
- Can Rico Dowdle and Jaylen Warren Both Deliver in Fantasy Next Season?
Wide Receivers
- Will DJ Moore Push Buffalo Over the Top in 2026?
- Wan’Dale Robinson Could Be the Key to Unlocking Cam Ward’s Evolution
- Mike Evans Still Has Touchdown Scoring Upside in San Francisco
- Is Jaylen Waddle’s Move to Denver an Upgrade or a Downgrade for Fantasy?
Tight Ends
Volume 2 of the 2026 RotoViz Rookie Draft Guide is out now! Jam-packed with comprehensive player profiles, advanced stats, player comps, strategies, and rankings from the RotoViz staff, it is a must-have for every fantasy manager who wants to crush their best ball, dynasty, and redraft leagues in 2026!
Keep an eye out for Volume 3, which will drop after the 2026 NFL Draft!
