Why Steelers keep using Kenneth Gainwell over Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson

Billy Heyen

Why Steelers keep using Kenneth Gainwell over Jaylen Warren, Kaleb Johnson image

The trend continues.

The Pittsburgh Steelers pulled running back Kenneth Gainwell into the backfield in a key spot. And he plunged in for a 1-yard touchdown to open Week 3's action.

It wasn't quite the way it was when Gainwell stole lots of snaps in Week 1, as Jaylen Warren got the action for the entire drive.

But Gainwell was the TD vulture.

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Why do the Steelers keep using Kenneth Gainwell?

Gainwell is certainly a frustration for fantasy football managers who are counting on Warren (or were counting on rookie Kaleb Johnson), but the Steelers clearly like him.

He's a well-rounded back who can run and catch and block. He's got winning experience, too, after winning a Super Bowl with the Eagles before departing in free agency for the NFL's other Pennsylvania team.

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Warren is more of the workhorse at this point, but Gainwell looks like he'll continue to steal work.

Johnson seems to be in the early season doghouse as a rookie.

The Steelers even activated Trey Sermon on Sunday, but Johnson stayed active, too, as they've got four RBs on the gameday roster to play the Patriots.

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Billy Heyen

Billy Heyen is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. He is a 2019 graduate of Syracuse University who has written about many sports and fantasy sports for The Sporting News. Sports reporting work has also appeared in a number of newspapers, including the Sandusky Register and Rochester Democrat & Chronicle