The Indianapolis Colts went out and signed running back Frank Gore in free agency and are expecting him to be a huge upgrade for them in the backfield. Gore is also expected to be a very solid fantasy football option.
Andrew Luck led the Colts to being the top passing offense in the NFL last season and they are expected to be even better through the air this season. Pep Hamilton has been given Andre Johnson and Phillip Dorsett to use through the air as well. Gore has never had the type of aerial attack that the Colts have had to force defenses to focus more on the pass than the run.
Last season with the San Francisco 49ers in a decreased role from what he was used to in years past, Gore ended up carrying the football 255 times for 1,106 yards and four touchdowns. He is likely to see a similar workload this season with the Colts, although he should pick the touchdown number up.
Indianapolis is going up against a very tough Buffalo Bills defense this week. It isn’t a favorable matchup for Gore, but he is still expected to put up solid all-around numbers. Luck is going to force Rex Ryan’s defense to focus on the pass which will open up some of the middle for Gore if the offensive line can open some holes for him.
At 32 years old, many fantasy football owners shied away from drafting Gore because they felt that he was over the hump. That couldn’t be further from the truth, especially due to the attention that will be taken off of him with Luck on the field.
Looking at this weeks matchup, Gore would be a very solid number two running back play. He isn’t going to score massive numbers, but he has a chance to give solid production. If you have him on your roster, make sure he is in the lineup, at the very least at the flex.
Expect to see Gore open his Colts’ career with a bang and show exactly why Ryan Grigson made it a priority to bring him on board. Despite the mixed feelings about his potential for the 2015 season from a fantasy perspective, Gore is a very solid option that will be a must play almost every week.
Week 1 Fantasy Football Projection: 19 carries, 86 yards, TD
