Week 6 at Tennessee Titans
Frank Gore is still the main man in the Colts backfield, averaging 16 touches per game. He faces a Titans defense ranked in the bottom half of the league in our aFPA vs. RB rankings. Rookie Marlon Mack flashed for 90+ yards on 9 carries last week, but stubborn Chuck Pagano said this week Mack is not ready for a featured or third-down back role (crazy, I know). That preserves Gore's value as FLEX option for another week.
Week 5 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Quietly, Gore has three straight double-digit PPR weeks, once again putting him on FLEX radars for Week 5. As 4for4 Senior Editor John Paulsen likes to say, #oldteamtheorum is in play as well, as Gore takes on his old team, the 49ers. Real evidence, however, shows a player that's been on the field for around 60% of snaps in back-to-back weeks after not cracking 50% snaps the first two weeks. Consider Gore an RB2 in a plus matchup this week.
Week 4 at Seattle Seahawks
Gore faces a Seattle team that has been torched by RBs in back-to-back weeks (Tennessee and San Francisco) and is allowing 146 rushing yards per game (third-worst in the NFL). That's the good news. The bad news is Frank Gore is averaging only 7.13 fantasy points in his last four games against the Seahawks, and that was when he played on a good 49ers team. Now on the Colts, with a worse O-line, in a game Indianapolis is a two-touchdown underdog? Gore doesn't even feel like an RB3 this week in 12-team leagues.
Week 3 vs. Cleveland Browns
Frank Gore found the end zone last week and faces the 30th-ranked defense in our aFPA vs. PPR RBs this week. However, his volume is down (12.5 touches per game through Week 2). This again feels like a touchdown-or-bust week for Gore in a game the Colts actually opened as home underdogs in against the Browns. He also only has 3 targets through two weeks, lowering his floor, as does his 3.67 yards-per-carry average. Gore is a low-level FLEX option, at best, in Week 3.
Week 2 vs. Arizona Cardinals
Frank Gore opened the season in a committee situation, with rookie Marlon Mack getting the red zone work. That's not a viable fantasy situation. Gore had just 10 rushes and 1 reception in Week 1, and now faces a top-10 defense in our aFPA vs. RBs. He's not a viable RB2 in Week 2.
Week 1 at Los Angeles Rams
Without Andrew Luck last season, the Colts gave their backfield 26 touches against Pittsburgh. Frank Gore saw 16 of those. The Rams are a tough test, though, as they are ranked fifth in our aFPA vs. PPR RBs. View Gore as a borderline low-end RB2 for Week 1, considering the Colts have also hinted at Robert Turbin getting more touches in 2017.
Fantasy Upside
Frank Gore is 34 and still the Colts' starting running back. He has finished as a top-15 PPR RB in each of the past two seasons. Volume is king at the RB position, and at his age, drafters are once again overlooking him. He also has not missed a game since 2010!
Fantasy Downside
Gore's efficiency continues to regress. Gore has now had back-to-back seasons below four yards per carry. Therefore, the volume will have to continue in order to sustain his fantasy success. There are reports out of Indianapolis that Robert Turbin will eat into his 2017 workload. The team also drafted the dynamic Marlon Mack in the fourth round. Gore's ADP is still reasonable in the seventh round, but just know his ceiling continues to get lower with each passing year.
2017 Bottom Line
Gore is one of the cheaper starting running backs you can draft in the seventh round, and his 10 weeks as a top-10 PPR RB was 12th among RBs. There are significant concerns about his volume taking a hit this season; however, his durability and consistency are pluses. With that said, we do have a couple other RBs we'd prefer in our rankings around Gore's ADP.
Week 17 at Jacksonville
Frank Gore is the first player in NFL history with 11 consecutive 1,200-yards from scrimmage seasons. In Week 17, he faces the Jaguars on the road in what could be the final game of his career. The Colts have all said they are playing to win in Week 17 (even if it is a meaningless game, as they are already eliminated from playoff contention). Gore was angry he did not rush for 1,000 yards last season, and he is 36 yards shy going into this week. His 95 total yards and a touchdown last game against Jacksonville makes him a solid Week 17 option as an RB2.
Week 16 at Oakland
Gore is as steady of an RB2 as they come, with 78+ total yards and a touchdown in all but one game this season. Coming off his 2nd 100 rushing yard performance of the year at Minnesota, another high-volume game is on tap against the Raiders. Robert Turbin may be getting some RZ work, but you can't argue with Gore's touches (30 more last week). Oakland has also allowed six TDs to RBs in the past five weeks. Consider Gore a low-to-mid RB2 in Week 16.
Week 15 at Minnesota
As usual, Gore is a low-end RB2 in Week 15 as the Colts play at Minnesota, a team that is top-10 in fantasy points allowed to running backs. If you're hoping for a touchdown this week to stabilize Gore's floor, it's going to be tough. The Vikings have only allowed four touchdowns to opposing running backs all season, and the last two were to Zeke and David Johnson. Gore's volume should stabilize his floor somewhat, however, it's hard to see a high ceiling in this matchup.
