Daily Haze, fantasy football, NFL, sports news

Fantasy owners plugging the gap in lineups left by 49ers’ running back Frank Gore back in week 3 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 3. 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 1 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 2 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.

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