Frank Gore

Week Seventeen Analysis: A steep early deficit in Seattle last week resulted in just six carries for Frank Gore, which was his lowest total in his last 24 games. His 28 yards were also a season-low, but this was an anomaly—he'd averaged over 100 total yards in his previous eight games. While Gore managed just 66 total yards in his first meeting with Arizona, the Cardinals have since free-fallen to 32nd in run defense by giving up 168 rushing yards per game in their last five. They've also allowed six rushing scores in that five-game span, so Gore should rebound nicely.

Week Sixteen Analysis: Depending on your league's website, you may or may not have gotten credit for Frank Gore's fumble recovery touchdown against New England. Ruling aside, it was his fourth consecutive game with an end zone trip, and he's averaged over 90 total yards during that month-long stretch. Seattle's stout run defense has been surprisingly beatable in the second half. In their last six games, opposing backfields have scored seven times and averaged 140 total yards. Moreover, Gore had his best rushing and receiving days of the season in the first meeting, rolling up 131 and 51 yards, respectively. As usual, he's a very safe option this week.

Week Fifteen Analysis: With Frank Gore still running hard in mid-December, he's quietly proven the vast majority of the fantasy football community wrong this year. He currently ranks ninth in the league in rushing, and he's still going strong, scoring in four of his last five games while averaging 87 combo yards during that span. This week he'll face a New England run defense that's only allowed one back to top 80 rushing yards all season. However, they've given up five rushing scores in their last five games, they rank 28th against opposing backs in receiving yards, and Gore's been a consistent producer regardless of matchup. Feel free to start him as usual.

Week Fourteen Analysis: Without Kendall Hunter last week, Frank Gore toted the rock a season-high 23 times against St. Louis. He only managed 58 yards, but he did score for the third time in his last four games, and we could be in line for a similar box score again this week. Miami's fifth-ranked run defense allows just 3.6 yards per carry, but they've surrendered a touchdown to an opposing back in three of their last four outings. He's not a very exciting option in a tough matchup, but if you've ridden Gore this far, you know that he's been a consistent producer regardless of opponent.

Week Thirteen Analysis: Frank Gore has averaged 108 combo yards in his last five games, and he's scored in two of his last three, so his better-than-expected production is still holding steady late into the season. This week we could very well see a spike in that production against a St. Louis defense that's given up seven rushing scores in their last four games alone. One of those touchdowns, along with 115 combo yards, came from Gore just three weeks ago. It's a very favorable matchup, and Kendall Hunter's injury further solidifies Gore's positive outlook.

Week Twelve Analysis: San Francisco has done a nice job of keeping Frank Gore fresh, and it's paying off for the 49ers and fantasy owners alike. Despite ranking 15th in the league in rushing attempts, Gore ranks seventh in the league in yardage, thanks to a sparkling 5.2-yard per-carry average. Unfortunately, he's only scored once in his last five games. But that should change this week. Against opposing backs, the Saints rank 32nd in rush yards, 30th in receiving yards, and have given up nine touchdowns. Gore racked up 127 combo yards in the teams' playoff meeting last season, and Marcel Reece just went for 193 combo yards against New Orleans, so Gore is an outstanding play.

Week Eleven Analysis: Coming out of his bye last week, Frank Gore picked up right where he left off, totaling 115 combo yards and a score against St. Louis. He's now averaging just under 100 combo yards per game on the season, but he'll be hard-pressed to stay on pace this week against Chicago. While Chris Johnson and Arian Foster have each gone for over 110 combo yards and scored against the Bears the last two weeks, Chicago had given up just one touchdown and 3.5 yards per carry in their previous seven contests. Gore can be started, but he'll have to earn every last yard.

Week Ten Analysis: Halfway through the year, Frank Gore has averaged 97 combo yards per contest, as well as a touchdown every other game. Moreover, he's running at a career-best 5.5-yard per carry clip, and his 121 receiving yards have already eclipsed last year's 16-game season total of 114. He kicks off his second half this week against a middle-of-the-road St. Louis run defense that was last seen giving up 225 combo yards and two touchdowns to the Patriots' backfield trio. You can expect the well-rested Gore to hit the ground running coming out of his bye week.

Week Eight Analysis: After a rare hiccup against the Giants two weeks ago, Frank Gore rebounded in a big way against a previously impenetrable Seattle run defense with season highs of 131 rushing yards and 51 receiving yards. Excluding last season's finale, where Gore was rested for the playoffs, he's now scored and/or topped 115 combo yards in 10 if his last 12 games. Arizona's once-stout run defense has suddenly become a sieve—two weeks ago Buffalo's tandem totaled 193 combo yards and two touchdowns, and last week Adrian Peterson went for 159 and a score. Considering his current string of production, you're locking Gore into your lineup until further notice.

Week Seven Analysis: Through his first five games, Frank Gore scored four times and averaged 16 carries for 86 yards. Unfortunately, a big deficit against the high-powered New York Giants last week rendered Gore an afterthought, as he carried just eight times for 36 yards. Getting back on track this week will be a tall task against a dominant Seattle run defense that's surrendering less than 2.8 yards per carry. In fact, the high water mark against the Seahawks is just 55 rushing yards, and they haven't ceded a score to the position in the last three weeks. There's a decent chance you have two better options than Gore this week.

Week Six Analysis: With 432 rushing yards this season Frank Gore has the seventh most rushing yards in the NFL. He also has the second most rushing touchdowns in the league this year, despite facing four top ten rushing defenses through his first five games.  The Giants do not possess a top ten rushing defense. In fact they have given up running back touchdowns in three of their first five games and they just allowed 268 combo yards to featured running backs over their last two games. In addition, the Giants and their opponents have been in high scoring battles all year, combining to score an average of 53 points-per-game, if that trend continues, Gore will get his this week.

Week Five Analysis: Frank Gore has now scored three times in four games, and he's coming off his first 20-plus-carry effort of the season. While Kendall Hunter continues to impress and Brandon Jacobs is finally healthy, Gore should retain the lion's share of the split for as long as he can hold up. The Bills' bottom-tier fantasy run defense was just trucked for 254 yards and three touchdowns by Stevan Ridley and Brandon Bolden, and in the opener they gave up 94 yards and a score to the worst starting running back in the league—Shonn Greene. Enjoy one more big week out of Gore, and then look to sell high before the wheels fall off.

Week Four Analysis: Frank Gore's high water mark is 17 carries this season, and he's cracked 20 just once in his last nine games. However, an impressive 5.9-yard per carry average has made up for his slowly fading workload. Look for that efficiency to continue this week against a Jets' defense that ranks 31st in rushing yardage. Moreover, only the Saints and Jaguars have ceded more than the four rushing scores the Jets have surrendered, which have included goal line plunges from Isaac Redman, Daniel Thomas and something called Jorvorskie Lane. Gore looks to be a strong start this week.

Week Three Analysis: Frank Gore sputtered down the stretch last season, but he's looked very fresh in the early going. Gore is one of only four backs with over 200 rushing yards through two games, and he's also scored in each contest. This week he heads to Minnesota to face a Vikings run defense that's allowing just 3.2 yards per carry, and has yet to cede a rushing score. The Vikings are certainly solid against the run, but we know they're not nearly as dominant as the numbers suggest. There's no reason to shy away from the rejuvenated Gore in this one.

Week Two Analysis: Before you get too excited about Frank Gore's 16 carries for 112 yards and a touchdown, you need to take two things into consideration: One, Kendall Hunter also got nine carries, and two, Green Bay's patty cake defense showed zero interest in tackling. Considering that Gore closed out the final eight games of last season at a 3.5-yard per-carry clip, it's probably a good time to sell high on his fraudulent 7.0-yard per-carry average. The Lions only allowed five rushing scores last season, and they just had their way with Steven Jackson, so don't expect an encore from Gore this week.

Week One Analysis: Welcome to backfield committee hell, Frank Gore owners. Kendall Hunter, Brandon Jacobs and LaMichael James will all be in the mix for carries, and Gore was already quickly fading last season. The once-productive pass catcher caught just 17 balls in 16 games, and averaged a measly 58 combo yards and 3.5 yards per-carry over the final eight weeks. Green Bay allowed the most receptions, and second-most receiving yards to opposing backs last season, to go along with a healthy 4.5-yard per-carry average. However, while the matchup is favorable, Gore no longer possesses the talent or workload to exploit it.

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