Should You Draft Frank Gore in 2016?
Anyone who had Frank the Tank on their fantasy team during 2015 will likely tell you to run for the hills. He was inconsistent week to week and did not break 100 yards rushing in any single game. He preformed so badly last year that his ADP (Average Draft Position) has fallen almost 50 places going into the 2016 season. He has gone from the 28th over all pick in 2015 (10th running back) to the 73rd overall pick in 2016 (30th running back). While all of that may sound like Frank should finally be shelved to collect dust in the corner, I believe that he could be the steal of the Draft in 2016.
Frank Gore has been playing in the NFL since 2005. With 11 years as a NFL running back, in only his rookie season has he ever had less than 1,000 combined yards or finish not in the top 20 fantasy point scorers at his position. Even after his horrible season last year, averaging 3.7 yards per carry, he finished 11th in fantasy points. How did he do it? Two words… Bell Cow.
Frank Gore age 33 is one of the few remaining Bell Cows in the NFL. Every year it seems that more and more teams are moving away from having a single 3 down running back and running their offense with a committee approach. After a plethora of injuries and retirements in 2015 the disease that is committees is spreading faster than ever. Teams who once had a clear lead back now are nothing but muddy water. Langford in Chicago, Rawls in Seattle, and even David Johnson in Arizona ,who has a 1st round ADP may I remind you, all have talent lined up to take rushes away from them. Its easy to say that David is the best back in Arizona, but that is not going to stop the coaches from tagging in Chris Johnson to keep him fresh and healthy.
Now before I get anyone Gung Ho on Frank and taking him way to early I want to readdress that he is 33 years old, He has been playing for over 10 years, and he is not going to put up a 2,000 yard season. What he is going to do is get the ball each and every week, be on a rejuvenated offense, and be incredibly undervalued.
He will get the ball every week
Last year frank may have been 11th in fantasy points but he was #5 in attempts. The Colts have done virtually nothing to bring in anyone else to the position.Unless something changes before the season he looks to once again be given the teams full volume.
The Colts have a rejuvenated offense
The Colts offense was atrocious last year with the injury to Andrew Luck. Their whole offense suffered. Gore was met with 8 defenders in the box more often than not. With a top NFL quarterback at the helm, Frank and the rest of the team can look forward to a better offense and more fantasy points all around.
He is way under valued
This is where I want to really want to stress my point. Last year Gore finished as the 11th best fantasy running back. Currently Gore is being drafted as the 30th running back off the board. Just think about that. 30th… There are only 32 teams in the NFL. Last year as a team the Colts WERE 30th in fantasy points for running backs. Unless the Colts coaching changes their mind and brings someone else in, 2015 is Frank Gores floor. Gore has a round 1 workload while his value has dropped from the 3rd to the late 6th, early 7th round of 12 team leagues.
Like I said in the title Gore is just like an Antique. His age masks what he is worth. But for those willing to look past his wear and tear know that he can be refurbished into a starting RB for your team.