Frank Gore Injury: Why Fantasy Owners Should Bench 49ers RB

Right now there are a lot of questions regarding Frank Gore and whether owners should start the star 49ers back, who is listed as questionable for the late game with the Arizona Cardinals. Unless you don't have a remotely reasonable alternative, my advice is bench him.

There are three big reasons for this. First and foremost, you always run a risk. Even if a questionable player does get the start, there's no guarantee that they'll get the finish. Playing injured always carries with it the possibility of aggravating the injury. Nothing is more gut-wrenching than seeing one of your backs go down a minute into the game. 

Second, if they have a capable alternative, there's always a danger of the dreaded "platoon" role becoming an issue, particularly down at the goal line. Kendall Hunter was capable last week against the formidable Giants defense. 

Third, this is a game that the 49ers could pull away in. If they do, on a shortened weak featuring a game on Turkey Day, the 49ers are not gong to be feeding Gore a heavy diet of carries. 

Generally speaking, my rule of thumb is that I'd rather be smacking myself for not starting someone than for starting them. There's always the chance he will be huge and give you 10 points more than whoever you started, but you'll still have a chance to win. 

What'll kill you though is if you have a one or a two or even a zero next to your running back spot on your scoreboard. Your chances of losing because you did start him are greater than your chances of losing because you didn't. 

There's always a gamble when you bench an elite back, but the risk-reward scenario here says bench him unless you really have no decent alternative.