Frank Gore's Updated 2014 Fantasy Outlook Heading into Week 4

Of all the numbers one can throw out regarding Frank Gore this season, 31 might be the most important.

Thirty years old is a dreaded age for running backs, and Gore is more than one trip around the sun removed from the usual tailback expiration date. The perception of others is your reality as an NFL player, and Gore may prove to be a victim of this inescapable fact of life in professional football.

As Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle points out, Gore has plenty of mileage on his body:

Gore definitely has the talent to outperform the majority of his halfback peers, but expect his fantasy outlook to dip slightly below his preseason expectations, although not by much. He's still a solid option as an RB2 or flex player, but he may not prove to be a lock for another 1,000-yard season.

And take a look at Gore's production through the first three games of this season compared to years past.

Season	ATT	YDS	AVG	TD	REC	REC YDS
2011	59	148	2.6	1	6	36
2012	45	264	5.8	2	4	26
2013	41	142	3.5	1	5	56
2014	35	139	4.0	1	2	12

He's had a mix of slow and fast starts in recent years, but his involvement in the offense is trending downward. Gore appears to still be able to run efficiently despite his advanced age, but for whatever reason, the Niners are moving away from him as the featured star on offense. It might not necessarily be a byproduct of his age, but the times are changing in The City.

This is bad news for fantasy owners, as a back like Gore needs carries to have an impact and get into the flow of a game, and beyond that, the flow of the season.

This is not a knock on his potential or running style. Gore has always been an incredibly tough back to bring down. He plays with tenacity and flashes surprising speed for a powerful, compact back with a low center of gravity.

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

However, he's at his best when defenses are worn down by his presence, as he rarely hits the turf without putting up a fight. Gore also needs carries because he has never put up touchdowns in bunches. His career-high of touches ending with end-zone celebrations is 12, back in 2009.

Gore had just six carries for 10 yards in the Niners' 23-14 Week 3 loss against division-rival Arizona Cardinals, a number that offensive coordinator Greg Roman admitted wasn't part of the initial plan with the 49ers struggling to score.

"In a perfect world, you're letting Frank and the offensive line take over the game at the end of the game,” Roman said, via Tyler Emerick of 49ers.com,  “but we weren't in that situation, so we were never really able to transition into that."

The Niners featured a pass-happy approach to maximize the talents of quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee broke it down:

"

The 49ers rarely had used even three-receiver sets in the previous three seasons. But because of a lack of healthy tight ends, they used five wide receivers multiple times, including on five straight plays on their opening possession. The receiver-heavy look did not feature a running back, and the 49ers ran it without a huddle.

It was successful.

"

It wasn't successful enough to get the win, but it benefited those who own Kaepernick, who threw the ball 37 times and carried it 13 times in the contest.

It doesn't help that Gore's abilities as a receiver out of the backfield have greatly diminished in a pass-heavy NFL. Gore hasn't posted more than 30 receptions in a season since 2010.

The fact that the team is willing to focus Kaepernick with a five-time Pro Bowler in the backfield is a worrying development for fantasy managers. It's also apparently a tough pill for Gore to swallow.

“I can’t talk right now,” said Gore after being questioned by reporters, per Barrows. “I’m sorry. I can’t talk.”

As NFL.com's Marc Sessler notes, the 49ers have failed to score in the fourth quarter this season, so the latest game plans may soon be tossed out the window. 

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

As the San Francisco Chronicle's Ann Killion noted, ignoring Gore isn't in the team's best interest:

He has a decent change to get back on track against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4. They've given up the 11th most fantasy points this season to running backs, per ESPN.com.

Rick Scuteri/Associated Press

Then again, if the 49ers fall behind Chip Kelly's high-powered offense, Gore may still find himself on the sidelines more often than he would like.

The presence of rookie running back Carlos Hyde is another reason to sell Gore's fantasy stock. He hasn't had a great number of touches to start the season, but he is averaging 4.5 yards per carry and has scored twice already, including against Arizona. Bleacher Report's own Matt Miller loved the toughness he showed on the play:

That, and the fact that the 49ers seem content to gain yards on the ground with Kaepernick's scrambling sensibilities. All of this creates the perfect storm for beleaguered fantasy owners looking for Gore to carry the team.

Gore's name still holds plenty of clout in many fantasy options, so there is a possibility that he could be included in a potential blockbuster fantasy trade to help push through a deal. But if you're short on running backs, Gore should still be able to contribute. After all, he turned 30 years old last year and still put up 1,128 yards rushing.

There is still time for him to turn the 2014 season around, but he will need the opportunity to do so. His performance and involvement against the Eagles will tell fantasy owners all they need to know about Gore's output for the remainder of the season.