It's clear that 49ers RB Frank Gore won't have the workload he's had since becoming the featured running back in 2006. What's unclear is how those non-Gore carries will be divided this season.
Second-year player Kendall Hunter and second-round draft pick LaMichael James are assured spots on the team while Rock Cartwright could win one based on his special teams ability. Brandon Jacobs' and Anthony Dixon's spots, however, are fuzzier.
Jacobs appears reborn after a sometimes contentious career with the Giants, and he could be an asset if Gore, injured in each of his last five seasons, goes down again. But the acquisition of Jacobs and James also has seemed to spark something in Dixon, who to this point has not been able to marry his undeniable skills with focus and commitment.
The backup situation might be one to monitor if you end up having Gore on your team. We rank Gore just 20th on our RB list, which is borderline RB3 material. His ADP is still the fourth round but it seems to be a risky place to take him because of the decreased workload.
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