The Pittsburgh Steelers offense has roared back to life over the past two weeks, with the second half of their 28-15 win over the Dolphins being the prime example. They started the half with three consecutive touchdown drives, and they did it with an array of players and concepts.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers looked sharp once again, building on his momentum from last week. DK Metcalf only caught three passes, but one of them was a ferocious catch and run for a touchdown. All of the tight ends got involved, including Jonnu Smith and Connor Heyward touchdown runs (yes, really).
Perhaps nobody shouldered a bigger load than running back Kenneth Gainwell, however.
He finished with 13 carries for 80 yards, and chipped in seven receptions for another 46 yards through the air. It was his fourth game this season with over 100 scrimmage yards, and his third in the last five games. He is quickly establishing himself as one of the Steelers' most important players, and he doesn't appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
Kenneth Gainwell has become the Pittsburgh Steelers top playmaker during recent offensive resurgence
With all of the significant changes that the Steelers made to their roster this offseason, nobody would have expected Gainwell to be the one who is arguably making the biggest impact outside of Rodgers. DK Metcalf has been solid this season, but he has gone through long stretches without making much of an impact. Smith has been a disappointment at tight end, and rookie running back Kaleb Johnson can't seem to earn any playing time.
Gainwell himself started off slowly for the most part, save for his Week 4 start against the Minnesota Vikings. Over his first nine games this season, he amassed just 343 yards on 81 total touches, averaging a poor 4.2 yards per play.
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Things have changed drastically over his last five games, however. He has racked up 440 total yards on just 69 total touches during that stretch, averaging a much healthier 6.4 yards per play. His speed and elusiveness have made him a lethal checkdown option in the passing game, and he has even outpaced Jaylen Warren as a rusher over the past five weeks as well.
Still just 26 years old, the former fifth-round pick is playing his way towards a significant raise from his one-year, $1.79 million deal he signed with the Steelers this offseason. With Jaylen Warren getting paid this past offseason, would Pittsburgh consider re-signing him?
It's hard to say, but one thing is for certain: they likely wouldn't be playing as well offensively if he weren't on the team this season.