Frank

Gore

Gore has had one of the more impressive runs in recent NFL memory. He went from being a college player at Miami who twice tore his ACL to the NFL’s Iron Man who spent 16 years in the league, last playing with the New York Jets in 2020 in his age-37 season. Gore rushed for over 1,000-yards nine times in his career, and ranks third in all-time with 16,000 rushing yards and fourth in total yards from scrimmage with 19,985. Gore appeared in 14 or more games in each of his final 10 seasons and played in more games (241) than any RB in NFL history. From a career standpoint, Gore has Hall of Fame caliber numbers, but never led the league in rushing and made just five Pro Bowls. He will be an interesting case for Canton when his time comes, but for now, we can appreciate the end of an impressive run by one of the more revered players in the league.

His normal playing weight is about 215. “I think (losing the five pounds) will help me finish my runs,” said Gore. One concern for fantasy owners: Niners head coach Mike Nolan says he wants Gore to have less touches overall this year to reduce his wear and tear.

Gore, an unrestricted free agent entering his 17th season, was enthused about returning to the team that drafted him during the second George W. Bush administration. “Oh, oh, I’d come back fast,” Gore said. “Man, I’d love to wear that No. 21 jersey one more time. If that was to happen, that would definitely be my last year, if I could come back and sign with the 49ers.” Gore, 37, averaged 3.5 yards per carry on 187 carries for Adam Gase’s Jets in 2020. He’d have little chance to getting any run in a crowded San Francisco backfield.

The only question remaining is whether Gore, 37, will play alongside his son, Frank Gore, Jr., who is eligible for the NFL draft in 2023. 2020 was Gore’s 16th consecutive season with 500-plus rushing yards and 125-plus rushing attempts (both NFL records). Perhaps Adam Gase can bring him to his next landing spot.

The 37-year-old again led the Jets in carries on Sunday but suffered a season-ending lung contusion in-game. It’s possible this marks the end of Gore’s historic 16-year career, but we’ll believe that when we see it; there are some rumors he’s looking to play until his son, Frank Gore Jr., is eligible to declare for the NFL draft in 2023. Whatever the case, 2020 will close as Gore’s 16th consecutive season with 500-plus rushing yards and 125-plus rushing attempts (both NFL records), ultimately leaving him just 726 yards shy of second all-time behind Walter Payton (16,726) for the most rushing yards in league history. Gore, 38 in May, will likely already have decided to return for his 17th season before the clock turns another year.

It wasn’t working at all, but coach Adam Gase kept rushing Gore up the middle with La’Mical Perine and Ty Johnson mixing in occasionally behind him. Gore ended up leaving the game with trainers in the fourth quarter. It’s unclear if it’s an injury that will keep him out of Week 17, which could be his last game of his insane NFL career. Perine would be the top insurance option if Gore misses.

Ty Johnson capped the Jets’ opening drive with an 18-yard touchdown reception. He got seven total touches. Coach Adam Gase committed to Gore come hell or high water, and the result was, somehow, the Jets’ first victory of 2020. 37-year-old Gore — who people might end up forgetting was a phenomenal player in his prime — continued to display absolutely zero juice, but Gase could not curb his addiction. It gives Gase plausible deniability that he wasn’t trying to give up on Gang Green’s Trevor Lawrence tank. The Rams were just even worse today. Gore will be a low-floor, nonexistent-ceiling RB4 for Week 16 against the Browns’ tough run defense.

Ty Johnson rushed for 104 yards against the Raiders in Week 13, but Gase attributed that performance to the “O-line and opponent,” claiming he leaned on Gore against Seattle since it “presented different challenges.” Gore of course did nothing, averaging 2.8 yards per carry on a backfield-high nine touches. It’s been made clear that Gase doesn’t prefer efficiency and explosiveness from his running backs, cementing Gore at the head of the table among that group (no matter the outcome) for the rest of the year.

Gore progressed through the league’s concussion protocol throughout the week and eventually started and led the team’s backfield with nine total touches. Ty Johnson received eight carries, merely averaging 2.0 yards per pop. Unless Johnson isn’t available in Week 15 — and there’s no reason to believe he won’t be — this entire backfield can continue to be avoided for the fantasy playoffs.

Gore’s availability kills any excitement for Ty Johnson, who handled 24 of the team’s 32 backfield touches once the veteran exited with a concussion in Week 13. Coach Adam Gase will likely lean on Gore for 20-plus meaningless touches against Seattle.