Fantasy Football: Analyzing the Downside for Each Relevant Rookie Running Back

Marlon Mack, Indianapolis Colts

Downside: Frank Gore is a machine

Frank Gore has been an injury away from another running back being fantasy relevant for a decade. But he continues to play. And play some more. And play some more.

Gore will be 34 years old when August rolls around, which is unheard of at the running back position. The last time he missed a game? 2010, when Michael Turner was one of the most productive runners in football.

Banking on Frank Gore going down with an injury because of age is like banking on Alex Smith to convert a deep ball during crunch time.

Marlon Mack -- the late-fourth rounder selected by the Colts -- is in a position to at least steal some looks from Gore right away, though. Especially in the passing game.

During his final season at South Florida, Mack caught 12.44% of the team's passes, one of the better reception market shares among incoming rookie backs. Some have profiled him to be more of a scat back, but on the Colts, that could lead to playing time: Gore, Robert Turbin, and Josh Ferguson each had between 26 and 47 targets last year and, per our numbers, none of them were far above the league's per-target efficiency average.

A healthy Gore will make it tough for Mack to see a ton of rushing volume in the backfield. But he'll be a popular late-round target among fantasy owners -- including myself -- because of the pass-catching potential and the upside stemming from a Gore injury.

Even though we know that won't happen.