Giants Linked to RB Trade That Doesn't Make Much Sense

The New York Giants' rushing attack has been a major problem this season. That's undeniable.

The Giants rank toward the bottom of the league in both rushing yards per game (104.8) and yards per carry (3.8), and outside of a Cam Skattebo or Tyrone Tracy breakout, they don't seem to have any trustworthy internal solutions.

New York has already released Najee Harris, and there is no way the Giants can count on Devin Singletary for much of anything.

While the interior offensive line play has also been a considerable factor in New York's laboring ground game, it's also clear the Giants lack a featured running back.

Skattebo showed flashes of No. 1 potential last year, but he played in just eight games before going down for the season due to a gruesome ankle injury.

Thus far in 2026, the second-year player — who fumbled four times in his first five contests this season — looks more like a complementary piece than a top back.

That's why New York is being pitched as a potential destination for a halfback between now and the NFL trade deadline, with Indianapolis Colts superstar Jonathan Taylor being floated as a possibility.

However, Daniel Popper of The Athletic has identified another much less exciting running back as a candidate for Big Blue: Tampa Bay Buccaneers veteran Kenneth Gainwell.

Popper listed Gainwell among his top 50 players most likely to be dealt before Nov. 10, and he named the Giants as one of the most probably landing spots.

I'm not seeing it.

Yes, Gainwell hauled in 73 receptions for the Pittsburgh Steelers last year and has a history of being a solid pass-catcher out of the backfield, but what would he actually solve for New York?

Gainwell has rushed for just 61 yards on 19 carries in Tampa Bay this season. He has also caught 12 passes for another 61 yards and a score. Oh, and he is averaging a paltry 3.2 yards per carry on the ground.

The 27-year-old is a decent auxiliary player who had a nice year with the Steelers in 2025. But he wouldn't do anything that the Giants' current running backs already provide.

Both Skattebo and Tracy are very capable receivers, and they are also both superior rushers to Gainwell, who topped out at 537 rushing yards last season.

Gainwell will be a nice pickup for someone over the next couple of weeks if the Buccaneers decide to move him. But the Giants shouldn't bother.

New York is already incredibly thin on draft capital, so trading another pick for a player who, at this point, wouldn't even be a huge upgrade over Singletary would be pointless.

The only way the Giants should entertain a trade for a running back is if it's a proven No. 1 (like Taylor) or a veteran who has already established himself as a dependable ball-carrier. Like Tony Pollard, for example.

Otherwise, New York should just punt to the offseason for a proper backfield solution.