Daily Haze: Frank Gore Healthy, Ready to Return

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Fantasy owners plugging the gap in lineups left by 49ers' running back Frank Gore back in week three should get some relief this weekend.

Gore, after two solid fantasy performances to start the season, will return to the starting lineup this weekend for the first time since injuring his ankle very early against the Vikings back in week three . The injury happened so early in that game, in fact, that Gore failed to register a single point for fantasy teams in standard scoring leagues.

And for those in non-standard scoring leagues, say fractional scoring leagues, he registered a grand total of 0.4 points for his owners on that fateful day.

In his stead, rookie running back Glen Coffee got the nod and, well, he got a bunch of carries. The numbers certainly do not jump off the page: In three games (mostly) without Gore, Coffee carried the ball 61 times for 173 yards (2.8 yards-per-carry) with one rushing touchdown. He also contributed eight catches for 53 yards.

Those numbers are mediocre-at-best compared to what Gore can do with the ball.

Granted, Gore's week one performance against Arizona was salvaged by a pair of touchdowns. 22 carries for 30 yards is not going to win Gore any rushing titles, but rushing for and catching a touchdown in a game where the yardage totals were down goes to show you how important he is to the 49ers' offense.

He is going to get the ball when it counts. He also has shown the ability to have fantasy explosions, like the one fantasy owners enjoyed in week two against the Seahawks: 16 carries, 207 yards, two touchdowns; five catches, 39 yards.

In contrast, those two performances are on the opposite ends of the fantasy spectrum. One, a ground-churning, power-through-it performance salvaged by end zone plunges; The other a supernova of fantasy goodness characterized by quick, expansive runs over, around and through a maligned defense.

Fantasy owners would take either of those performances from Gore going forward, and maybe even something in between those extremes—as long as he stays healthy.

Here are today's great reads:

Fresh off a bye, Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning should pick up right where he left off against the Rams this weekend. [Roto Arcade]

If you are 0-6 or 1-5 in fantasy redraft leagues , desperate times calls for really, really desperate measures. Pull out all the stops! [The Fantasy Football Geek Blog]

For those of you in love with Twitter and iPhones, Chad OchoCinco—who is in love with himself—now has his very own iPhone app . [Shutdown Corner]

Finally, Bills' receivers Lee Evans and Terrell Owens got the targets they deserved in week 6. Not that Owens did much of anything with his, but at least Evans produced. [Pancake Blocks]

So in a crucial goal line situation on Monday Night Football, the Chargers took LaDainian Tomlinson out of the game on third down and tried to run it in with Darren Sproles. Madness. Has Tomlinson lost the goal line duties in San Diego? [FanHouse]

Taking a look at some of the quarterbacks who have started hot but have faced a relatively easy schedule through the first six weeks of the season. How will they fare down the stretch? [Sports Data Hub]

Which players not currently ranked among the top-10 running backs will move into that number by the end of the season? [Bruno Boys]

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