Gary Brightwell headshot
RB Free agent #32

Gary Brightwell Fantasy outlook and stats for 2026

Age
28
Height / weight
6'1", 218 lb
Experience
6th season
Drafted
2021 R6, #196

2023 Season

PPR PPG
2.9
Pos rank
RB96
Rostered
-

Gary Brightwell Fantasy Football Stats & Analysis

Producing as

RB82 · Bench

Scoring rate

2.9 PPG

Played

4 games

Role

Depth

Trend

Stable

Role Direction

Season average against the last four games played.
UsageSeasonLast 4Change
Carries/G2.32.30%
Targets/G1.81.80%

Should You Start or Roster Gary Brightwell?

Brightwell's profile is built on the thinnest possible sample. Our last meaningful look came in 2023, when he played just four games and logged only nine carries for 19 yards at a dismal 2.11 per attempt, with an EPA of minus-0.115 per play that screams replacement-level. He flashed marginally as a checkdown outlet, hauling in five of seven targets for 47 yards and a 1.96 yards-per-route-run mark, but a 1.4 percent target share and 6.6 fantasy points underscore how invisible he was. That RB105 finish is the ceiling, not the floor.

Now with the Bengals after bouncing across practice squads, he sits at the very bottom of the depth chart with essentially no draftable value. Ranked outside RB160 and rostered in roughly zero percent of leagues, Brightwell is a special-teams body and emergency depth, not a fantasy asset. Leave him on waivers until injuries force a real conversation.

Career Fantasy Stats by Season

SeasonTeamGPRush ydsRush TDRecRec ydsRec TDFPTSPPGFinish
2025-2000000.00.0RB124
2024-2000000.00.0RB116
2023NYG7190547011.61.7RB103
2022NYG171411539030.01.8RB89
2021NYG13401602.00.1RB126
Career4116411192043.61.1
All 5 seasons and advanced stats

Rest-of-Season Outlook and Availability

Outlook

Now with the Bengals after bouncing across practice squads, he sits at the very bottom of the depth chart with essentially no draftable value. Ranked outside RB160 and rostered in roughly zero percent of leagues, Brightwell is a special-teams body and emergency depth, not a fantasy asset. Leave him on waivers until injuries force a real conversation. Full outlook

Injury status

Active, no designation

RBs like Gary Brightwell

RB76Chris RodriguezJaguars3.8 PPGRB80Tyler GoodsonCowboys3.0 PPGRB81Pierre StrongPackers2.9 PPG
RB82You are hereGary BrightwellFree agent2.9 PPG
RB83Ronnie RiversRams2.9 PPGRB88Chris BrooksPackers2.6 PPGRB92Connor HeywardRaiders2.5 PPG

Gary Brightwell 2023 Stats

He didn't score a touchdown, so all of his fantasy production came from volume.

Rush yards
19
9 Carries
Yds / carry
2.1
Rush TD
0
Receiving
5 rec · 47 yds
7 Targets · 0 TD

Fantasy (PPR)

Fantasy points
11.6
Position rank
RB107

5.6 Best Week 3 SF0.0 Worst Week 2 ARI

See these stats game by game

Fantasy Points per Game, Every Season

2023Dashed line: career average

1.7

Fantasy PPG

RB82

Fantasy finish

3

Rush yds/g

0.7

Rec/g

Gary Brightwell career stats by season

SeasonGPCarRush ydsRush TDRecRec ydsRec TDFPTSPPGFinish
202520000000.00.0RB124
202420000000.00.0RB116
202379190547011.61.7RB103
202217311411539030.01.8RB89
2021131401602.00.1RB126
Career414116411192043.61.1-

What His Career Numbers Say

2.3

Career PPG

19 games over 3 seasons

21%

Availability

Share of team games he played

0%

Top-24 weeks

Share of his games as a top-24 RB

2.7

Weekly swing

Standard deviation, low

By the StatChasers staff. Updated .

Brightwell has averaged 2.3 fantasy points per game over 19 games and 3 seasons, without a top-12 finish.

In 2023 he averaged 2.9 per game, level with 2022. His volume has held at about 4.0 carries plus targets a game, so the output has too. His quarterback in 2023 was Tyrod Taylor.

Career numbers describe the past; for what he is worth from here, see Brightwell's rest-of-season rank and trade value in Redraft Command.

Career highs

  • 141Rush yards2022
  • 1Total TD2022
  • 30.0Fantasy pts2022 · RB90
  • 256Career scrimmage yds2021–2023

RBs like Gary Brightwell

RB76Chris RodriguezJaguars3.8 PPGRB80Tyler GoodsonCowboys3.0 PPGRB81Pierre StrongPackers2.9 PPG
RB82You are hereGary BrightwellFree agent2.9 PPG
RB83Ronnie RiversRams2.9 PPGRB88Chris BrooksPackers2.6 PPGRB92Connor HeywardRaiders2.5 PPG

Gary Brightwell Stats FAQ

What were Gary Brightwell's stats last season?

In 2025, Gary Brightwell ran for 0 yards and no touchdowns and caught 0 passes for 0 yards in 2 games. That was 0.0 PPR points (0.0 per game), an RB124 finish.

What are Gary Brightwell's career NFL stats?

Across 5 seasons and 41 games, Gary Brightwell has 164 rushing yards and 1 rushing touchdowns, plus 11 catches for 92 yards, for 43.6 PPR fantasy points (1.1 per game).

How many touchdowns does Gary Brightwell have in his career?

Gary Brightwell has 1 touchdown in his NFL career: 1 rushing and 0 receiving, over 41 games.

Stats are official NFL regular-season data processed by StatChasers. Fantasy points use full PPR scoring: 1 point per reception, 1 per 25 passing yards, 4 per passing TD, −1 per interception, 1 per 10 rushing or receiving yards and 6 per rushing or receiving TD. Two-point conversions and lost fumbles count as Sleeper scores them.

Gary Brightwell Game Log 2023

Games played

4

FPTS/G (PPR)

2.9

Carries/g

2.3

Rush yds/g

4.8

Rec/g

1.3

Rec yds/g

11.8

Across 4 games in 2023, Gary Brightwell has averaged 2.3 carries, 4.8 rushing yards and 2.9 PPR fantasy points per game. Gary Brightwell has finished as a top-12 RB in 0 of those weeks, and inside the top 24 in 0. The best week was Week 3 against SF (5.6 points); the lowest was Week 2 against ARI (0.0).

WkOppResultFPTSCARRUSH YDSRUSH TDTGTRECREC YDSREC TDFinish
1DAL32ndL 0-403.11502260RB58

Week 1 · DAL · L 0-40 · 3.1 pts

Weekly finish
RB58 · Bust week
Vs. season average
+0.2 pts
Matchup
DAL ranked 32nd in points allowed to RB that season
Offensive snaps
11
Target share
910.0%

How the 3.1 points scored (PPR)

  • Rushing yards5 yds+0.5
  • Receptions2 rec+2.0
  • Receiving yards6 yds+0.6
2ARI3rdW 31-280.00000000RB84

Week 2 · ARI · W 31-28 · 0.0 pts

Weekly finish
RB84 · Bust week
Vs. season average
-2.9 pts
Matchup
ARI ranked 3rd in points allowed to RB that season
Offensive snaps
2
3SF23rdL 12-305.645032310RB44

Week 3 · SF · L 12-30 · 5.6 pts

Weekly finish
RB44 · Bust week
Vs. season average
+2.7 pts
Matchup
SF ranked 23rd in points allowed to RB that season
Offensive snaps
9
Target share
1760.0%

How the 5.6 points scored (PPR)

  • Rushing yards5 yds+0.5
  • Receptions2 rec+2.0
  • Receiving yards31 yds+3.1
4SEA1stL 3-242.949021100RB57

Week 4 · SEA · L 3-24 · 2.9 pts

Weekly finish
RB57 · Bust week
Vs. season average
0.0 pts
Matchup
SEA ranked 1st in points allowed to RB that season
Offensive snaps
19
Target share
950.0%

How the 2.9 points scored (PPR)

  • Rushing yards9 yds+0.9
  • Receptions1 rec+1.0
  • Receiving yards10 yds+1.0
5Did not play
6Did not play
7Did not play
8Did not play
9Did not play
10Did not play
11Did not play
12Did not play
13Bye week
14Did not play
15Did not play
16Did not play
17Did not play
18Did not play

Opponent rank is fantasy points allowed to RBs across 2023: 1st allows the most, 32nd the fewest.

Where His Weeks Finished

All four weeks outside the top 36. For a running back ranked RB96 overall, the spread matters more than the average: you get a RB44 ceiling and a waiver-wire floor.

RB1 range (top 24)RB2 range (25–36)Bench range (37+)Also: Wk 2 (RB84)

Game-by-Game Breakdown

Week 4, Oct 2
vs Seahawks
L 3–24

Shut down by Seattle

4 carries, 9 yds. 1/2 receiving, 10 yds.

He played 25% of the snaps and handled 4 carries. A clean, mistake-free game that landed right at his current season average.

2.9RB57
Week 3, Sep 21
@ 49ers
L 12–30

Shut down by San Francisco

4 carries, 5 yds. 2/3 receiving, 31 yds.

He played 18% of the snaps and handled 4 carries. A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.

5.6RB44
Week 2, Sep 17
@ Cardinals
W 31–28

Held in check by Arizona

0 carries, 0 yds. 0/0 receiving, 0 yds.

He played 3% of the snaps and handled 0 carries. A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.

0.0RB84
Week 1, Sep 10
vs Cowboys
L 0–40

Shut down by Dallas

1 carries, 5 yds. 2/2 receiving, 6 yds.

He played 16% of the snaps and handled 1 carries. A clean, mistake-free game that landed right at his current season average.

3.1RB58

Fantasy Points By Week

60W1W3W4Week 1 vs DAL: 3.1 ptsWeek 2 vs ARI: 0.0 ptsWeek 3 vs SF: 5.6 ptsWeek 4 vs SEA: 2.9 pts
  • Weekly points
  • Season average (2.9)

Gary Brightwell Game Log 2021

Games played

4

FPTS/G (PPR)

0.5

Carries/g

0.3

Rush yds/g

1.0

Rec/g

0.3

Rec yds/g

1.5

Across 4 games in 2021, Gary Brightwell has averaged 0.3 carries, 1.0 rushing yards and 0.5 PPR fantasy points per game. Gary Brightwell has finished as a top-12 RB in 0 of those weeks, and inside the top 24 in 0. The best week was Week 1 against DEN (1.6 points); the lowest was Week 11 against TB (0.0).

WkOppFPTSCARRUSH YDSRUSH TDTGTRECREC YDSREC TDFinish
1DEN27th1.60001160RB67

Week 1 · DEN · 1.6 pts

Weekly finish
RB67 · Bust week
Vs. season average
+1.1 pts
Matchup
DEN ranked 27th in points allowed to RB that season
Offensive snaps
8
Target share
430.0%

How the 1.6 points scored (PPR)

  • Receptions1 rec+1.0
  • Receiving yards6 yds+0.6
2Did not play
3ATL14th0.41400000RB74

Week 3 · ATL · 0.4 pts

Weekly finish
RB74 · Bust week
Vs. season average
-0.1 pts
Matchup
ATL ranked 14th in points allowed to RB that season
Offensive snaps
2

How the 0.4 points scored (PPR)

  • Rushing yards4 yds+0.4
4Did not play
5Did not play
6Did not play
7Did not play
8Did not play
9Did not play
10Did not play
11TB21st0.00000000RB80

Week 11 · TB · 0.0 pts

Weekly finish
RB80 · Bust week
Vs. season average
-0.5 pts
Matchup
TB ranked 21st in points allowed to RB that season
Offensive snaps
1
12PHI19th0.00000000RB82

Week 12 · PHI · 0.0 pts

Weekly finish
RB82 · Bust week
Vs. season average
-0.5 pts
Matchup
PHI ranked 19th in points allowed to RB that season
Offensive snaps
1
13Did not play
14Did not play
15Did not play
16Did not play
17Did not play
18Did not play

Opponent rank is fantasy points allowed to RBs across 2021: 1st allows the most, 32nd the fewest.

Where His Weeks Finished

All four weeks outside the top 36. For a running back who finished RB129 overall, his weeks clustered in a range you could plan around, between RB67 and RB82.

RB1 range (top 24)RB2 range (25–36)Bench range (37+)Also: Wk 11 (RB80), Wk 12 (RB82)

Game-by-Game Breakdown

Season summary, updated .

Week 12, Nov 28
vs Eagles
W 13–7

Held in check by Philadelphia

0 carries, 0 yds. 0/0 receiving, 0 yds.

He played 2% of the snaps and handled 0 carries. A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.

0.0RB82
Week 11, Nov 22
@ Buccaneers
L 10–30

Shut down by Tampa Bay

0 carries, 0 yds. 0/0 receiving, 0 yds.

He played 2% of the snaps and handled 0 carries. A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.

0.0RB80
Week 3, Sep 26
vs Falcons
L 14–17

Shut down by Atlanta

1 carries, 4 yds. 0/0 receiving, 0 yds.

He played 3% of the snaps and handled 1 carries. A clean, mistake-free game that landed well below his season average.

0.4RB74
Week 1, Sep 12
vs Broncos
L 13–27

Shut down by Denver

0 carries, 0 yds. 1/1 receiving, 6 yds.

He played 13% of the snaps and handled 0 carries. A clean, mistake-free game that landed well above his season average.

1.6RB67

RBs like Gary Brightwell

RB76Chris RodriguezJaguars3.8 PPGRB80Tyler GoodsonCowboys3.0 PPGRB81Pierre StrongPackers2.9 PPG
RB82You are hereGary BrightwellFree agent2.9 PPG
RB83Ronnie RiversRams2.9 PPGRB88Chris BrooksPackers2.6 PPGRB92Connor HeywardRaiders2.5 PPG

Our 2026 Preseason Outlook

By the StatChasers staff. Published .

Brightwell's profile is built on the thinnest possible sample. Our last meaningful look came in 2023, when he played just four games and logged only nine carries for 19 yards at a dismal 2.11 per attempt, with an EPA of minus-0.115 per play that screams replacement-level. He flashed marginally as a checkdown outlet, hauling in five of seven targets for 47 yards and a 1.96 yards-per-route-run mark, but a 1.4 percent target share and 6.6 fantasy points underscore how invisible he was. That RB105 finish is the ceiling, not the floor.

Now with the Bengals after bouncing across practice squads, he sits at the very bottom of the depth chart with essentially no draftable value. Ranked outside RB160 and rostered in roughly zero percent of leagues, Brightwell is a special-teams body and emergency depth, not a fantasy asset. Leave him on waivers until injuries force a real conversation.

What Drives His Outlook

His 2023 rank among the 95 running backs who played at least six games. Each bar is one running back, best on the left; his is highlighted.

Rushing volume

2.3carries per game

Fewer than 6 games in 2023, so not ranked.

Receiving role

1.8targets per game

Fewer than 6 games in 2023, so not ranked.

Efficiency

1.33yards after contact per carry

Fewer than 6 games in 2023, so not ranked.

Yards after contact per carry
1.33
Broken tackles
1
Explosive-run rate
0.0%
Red-zone opportunities
0
Snap share
8.9%
Targets
7

RBs like Gary Brightwell

RB76Chris RodriguezJaguars3.8 PPGRB80Tyler GoodsonCowboys3.0 PPGRB81Pierre StrongPackers2.9 PPG
RB82You are hereGary BrightwellFree agent2.9 PPG
RB83Ronnie RiversRams2.9 PPGRB88Chris BrooksPackers2.6 PPGRB92Connor HeywardRaiders2.5 PPG

Gary Brightwell Bio

Gary Brightwell is a running back who played 3 NFL seasons (2021–2023) for the New York Giants and Cincinnati Bengals. Born February 28, 1998, in Chester, PA, he attended St. Frances Academy and played college football at Arizona.

The New York Giants selected Brightwell in round 6, pick 196, of the 2021 NFL Draft. Since then, Brightwell played for the Cincinnati Bengals (2024–2025).

In 19 regular-season games from 2021, he ran for 164 yards and 1 touchdowns and caught 11 passes.

Career Timeline

2 stops with 2 teams in 5 seasons. Each block's width is the time he spent there.

Giants2021–2023 New York Giants
164rush yds, 1 TD, 11 rec · 19 games
Bengals2024–2025 Cincinnati Bengals
0games played
Regular-season rushing and receiving stats with each team.

What happened at each stop

Most recent first.

  1. Cincinnati Bengals2024–2025

    Listed on the 2024–2025 roster; no regular-season stats recorded.

  2. New York Giants2021–2023

    Selected in round 6, pick 196, of the 2021 NFL Draft. He was a reserve, playing less than a quarter of the offensive snaps in 34 of 37 games.

  3. College: Arizona

Transactions

  1. ReleasedReleased by the Cincinnati Bengals.
  2. ActivatedActivated by the Cincinnati Bengals.
  3. SignedSigned with the Cincinnati Bengals.
  4. ReleasedReleased by the Cincinnati Bengals.
  5. ActivatedActivated by the Cincinnati Bengals.
  6. SignedSigned with the Cincinnati Bengals.
  7. SignedSigned with the Cincinnati Bengals.
  8. WaivedWaived by the Cleveland Browns.
  9. SignedSigned with the Cleveland Browns.
  10. WaivedWaived by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
  11. SignedSigned with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
  12. WaivedWaived by the New York Giants.
  13. Placed on IRPlaced on injured reserve by the New York Giants.
  14. SignedSigned his four-year rookie contract with the New York Giants.
  15. DraftedSelected by the New York Giants in round 6, pick 196.

RBs like Gary Brightwell

RB76Chris RodriguezJaguars3.8 PPGRB80Tyler GoodsonCowboys3.0 PPGRB81Pierre StrongPackers2.9 PPG
RB82You are hereGary BrightwellFree agent2.9 PPG
RB83Ronnie RiversRams2.9 PPGRB88Chris BrooksPackers2.6 PPGRB92Connor HeywardRaiders2.5 PPG

About Gary Brightwell: Bio FAQ

How old is Gary Brightwell?

Gary Brightwell is 28 years old. He was born on February 28, 1998. 2026 is his 6th NFL season.

How tall is Gary Brightwell?

Gary Brightwell is 6 feet 1 inch tall (6'1"), listed at 218 pounds, and plays running back.

How much does Gary Brightwell weigh?

Gary Brightwell weighs 218 pounds, his listed weight. He is listed at 6'1".

What position does Gary Brightwell play?

Gary Brightwell plays running back, wearing number 32. 2026 is his 6th season in the NFL.

Where did Gary Brightwell go to college?

Gary Brightwell played college football at Arizona, after attending St. Frances Academy (MD). The New York Giants drafted him out of Arizona in 2021.

When was Gary Brightwell drafted?

The New York Giants selected Gary Brightwell in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft with the 196th overall pick, out of Arizona.

What round was Gary Brightwell drafted in?

Gary Brightwell was a sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, taken 196th overall by the New York Giants.

What pick was Gary Brightwell in the NFL Draft?

Gary Brightwell was the 196th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft, selected by the New York Giants in the sixth round.

Where is Gary Brightwell from?

Gary Brightwell went to high school in Maryland, at St. Frances Academy, before playing college football at Arizona.

When is Gary Brightwell's birthday?

Gary Brightwell's birthday is February 28. He was born on February 28, 1998 and is 28 years old.

How long has Gary Brightwell been in the NFL?

2026 is Gary Brightwell's 6th NFL season; he entered the league in 2021 as a sixth-round pick of the New York Giants. View his career statistics.

What teams has Gary Brightwell played for?

Gary Brightwell has played for the New York Giants and Cincinnati Bengals. View his career statistics.

What year did Gary Brightwell enter the NFL?

Gary Brightwell entered the NFL in 2021, when the New York Giants drafted him in the sixth round. 2026 is his 6th season.