One of the oldest players in the NFL, Gore plummeted down fantasy football drafts because, like every other year, there are fears that this is the year Frank Gore finally loses his luster. Last week, he was one of the few players who did not benefit from the fantasy points bonanza that broke out between Detroit and Indianapolis. This week he takes on a stout Broncos defense that will have Gore’s fantasy owners waiting until at least week three to get some satisfactory production.
Last week, Gore carried the ball just 14 times for 59 yards. He chipped in four catches for 19 yards. His 78 total yards is somewhat inspiring for Gore’s owners since he was able to be productive without tipping that 20 touch mark. The 7.8 fantasy points are completely serviceable, if wholly unspectacular. Without scoring, a player who gets that volume will rarely be able to turn up a double-digit fantasy week for you. So Gore’s production last week is encouraging, but the next time Gore gets over 100 yards rushing will be the first time he does it as a member of the Colts. That is worrisome.
Also worrisome for Gore owners is that he registered zero statistics inside his team’s red zone, which for an old back who isn’t ripping off large runs, is the kiss of death for fantasy football production upside.
So Gore, a back who is in a shared role and who will not run away from any defense, has become a solid four-yards-per-carry back who will probably get you between 60 and 80 yards and might score. But he probably won’t, given his opportunity. There are certainly better options on your roster in the second week of the NFL season especially due to the opponent that Gore takes on this week.
The Colts travel to Denver to take on the defending Super Bowl champions, a team that just took down the Panthers on Thursday Night Football. One would imagine that Gore’s fantasy line would end up at best like Jonathon Stewart’s from that game (15 carries, 64 yards). Gore faces the same issues as Stewart, as another player (Cam Newton in Stewart’s case) is taking the work within the ten-yard line. Never mind that Stewart is a better player at this point and that the Panthers offense is predicated on running the ball, and the Colts focus on passing to move their offense.
One of the few players to not benefit from the offensive output in Detroit-Indianapolis, Frank Gore with his limited workload takes on the toughest defense in the NFL and becomes questionable to put into your starting lineup. Unless you need somewhere between five and eight fantasy points in a flex role, you’d be better off looking elsewhere.