Week 17 vs. Houston Texans
Remember when these two teams were slugging it out for the AFC South crown in recent years? Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The Colts are actually a 5.5-point favorite in this game with a respectable implied team total in Vegas of more than 22 points. Those are two factors in Frank Gore's favor. Houston is also just 27th in aFPA to RBs. He saw 20 touches in his last matchup against this team. Start Gore as a RB2/FLEX in Week 17. If this is his last game, this machine of a man will want to go out with a bang.
Week 16 at Baltimore Ravens
The Colts have the lowest implied team total in Vegas for Week 16 in this Saturday game against the Ravens on the road at 13.5 points. It's more than two full points lower than the next worst team. Plus, the Colts have averaged a brutal 12.6 points per game during their five-game losing streak. If there's anybody on this offense worth playing, it might be Frank Gore based on volume. He's averaging 11.7 PPR points over his last four games and the Ravens are outside the top 20 in aFPA versus RBs. A case can be made for Gore to be a Week 16 FLEX, but the upside is hard to find.
Week 15 vs. Denver Broncos
The Colts played on the road, in a blizzard, and now have a short week to prepare to face the Broncos defense. No problem! Sheesh. Did we mention 34-year-old Frank Gore also had to carry the ball 36 times in that game? With a short week, it's probably highly likely Gore's bell cow workload is severely scaled back this week. On paper, the matchup is good, though, as Denver is ranked a lowly 27th in aFPA to RBs this year. However, they are top-10 in overall points allowed to the position in the past four weeks. Gore is a very risky low-RB2 in Week 15. However, monitor Frank Gore's status, as he did not practice Tuesday with a hand injury.
Week 14 at Buffalo Bills
The forecast calls for snow in the afternoon and sustained winds of 18 miles per hour. Not exactly what you're looking for if you have a struggling offense like the Colts. If it's hard to pass though, that means more touches for the backfield, and the Bills have allowed the most rushing yards in the league over the past four weeks. Frank Gore just moved into the top five all-time in rushing yards, and in Week 14, he's an unexciting FLEX option against a defense ranked dead last in aFPA versus RBs.
Week 13 at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are ranked just 17th in aFPA vs. RBs this season and, overall, are 18th in PPR points allowed to the position. On paper, not a bad matchup for a running back; however, the Colts offense has an implied team total of just 15.75 points. Only the Browns are lower in Week 13. That means Gore is a low ceiling FLEX option, at best, in Week 13. Gore had just 34 yards in the first game against Jacksonville this year.
Week 12 vs. Tennessee Titans
Over the past three games for the Colts, Frank Gore has 67 touches to 41 for Marlon Mack. The Titans are slightly worse than league average in aFPA against RBs. Gore had just 8.7 PPR points in the first meeting between these two teams this season, and the Colts' offensive line is still just #notgoodatfootball. However, Gore's averaging about 80 total yards over the past three games, which at least keeps him on the FLEX radar for Week 12. He'll likely need to score to be a fantasy weapon in Week 12.
Week 10 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Over the past two weeks, Frank Gore has 40 touches to Marlon Mack's 23. However, Pittsburgh is top-10 in our aFPA vs. RB rankings. Playing with a backup QB last season, Gore rushed for only 28 yards on 15 carries. Consider Gore an RB3 in Week 10.
Week 9 at Houston Texans
The Texans have allowed the second-fewest PPR points to fantasy RBs. The Colts are also 6.5-point underdogs, foreshadowing negative game script potentially. Gore saw 20 touches last week with the Colts staying in the game throughout at Cincinnati, but he had less than 15 the prior two weeks when the Colts were not competitive. For these reasons, Gore is a risky FLEX option in Week 9.
Week 8 at Cincinnati Bengals
Frank Gore's touches and snaps are deteriorating along with the Colts' offense in general. The last two weeks were the first and second time this season he played under 40% of the snaps, and he didn't even have a reception last week. Whether it's the bad offensive line or rookie Marlon Mack getting more touches, what matters for Gore fantasy owners is that he belongs on your bench against the Bengals, unless you are desperate at RB.
Week 7 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Robert Turbin is out for the season, which should raise Gore's floor moving forward. Gore was already averaging more than 15 touches per game before Turbin's injury, and against Jacksonville, the Colts will have to run the ball because of the Jags' elite secondary. Gore is a high-floor, low-ceiling FLEX option this week, as he'll still share touches with rookie Marlon Mack.
