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If you're the son of an NFL legend who holds the record for the most games played by a player at your position, the expectations for you will be sky-high. While Frank Gore Jr. failed to get selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, he still has the potential to have a solid pro career.
Most sons of NFL players are happy to live life in the shadows and have fun with their fathers' money. But Gore Jr. has worked tirelessly to get to this level. He had a good career in college and now he's ready to prove his worth to the Buffalo Bills and secure a place on their roster.
With Gore Jr. now headed to Buffalo, did he land in a good spot for fantasy? What is his fantasy football outlook for Year 1? Let's dive in and find out.
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College Production
Frank Gore Jr. was overlooked in high school, so he wasn't given the opportunity to follow in his father's footsteps and play for "The U." Instead, Gore Jr. committed to Florida Atlantic to learn from Lane Kiffin. However, Kiffin left shortly after, and Gore Jr. backtracked and committed to Southern Mississippi.
In his first season, Gore Jr. had to deal with a lot of instability, as the team had three different head coaches in 2020. Still, Gore Jr. produced and ran for 708 yards as a true freshman. Still, the instability around the team's coaching status was a major cause for concern and it could have seriously hindered Gore Jr.'s development.
Frank Gore Jr. needs to be talked about more!
Shrine Bowl Offensive MVP
Good Vision
Good in pass protection
Decent hands
Good size
"A good running back that does everything well"
4.52-4.55 speed
Round 6 type of guy with upside pic.twitter.com/KlWFbTHOKd
— H (@DynastyBuffs) February 16, 2024
In 2021, Will Hall was appointed as Golden Eagles head coach, a position that he has still held to this day. Gore Jr. took advantage of this stability, establishing himself with an 801-yard season in Year 2 before having two outstanding seasons to finish up his collegiate career. Gore Jr. ran for 2,513 yards and 19 TDs in those two years and was also deployed as an emergency quarterback at times.
Gore Jr. threw for seven touchdowns and just one interception in his sophomore and junior years. Based on statistical production alone, Gore Jr. would have been a potential top-150 draft pick. However, his lack of height (5-foot-8) and elite speed caused NFL teams to pass up on him.
Rookie Year Situation
Now, Gore Jr. is more motivated than ever. Having signed with the Buffalo Bills, he spoke to the media and claimed that going undrafted pushed him "a lot." "There’s no way 257 people are better than me in this draft," said Gore Jr. "Now I’m a Bill, I’m here to compete and push the running back room."
He also admitted that he could be used as a member of the special teams unit. His father still has no doubts about his son's talent. "Folks slept on my son; they slept on me, too. They'll see," Gore Sr. said. Gore Sr. was the sixth RB who was picked in the 2005 NFL Draft, but he gradually worked his way up to become an NFL superstar.
“There’s no way 257 people were better than me.”
-#Bills RB Frank Gore Jr. on his motivation after going undrafted pic.twitter.com/8mRfWSd4CN— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) May 10, 2024
If Gore Jr. does end up making Buffalo's roster, he'll have to compete with fellow rookie RB Ray Davis and either Ty Johnson or Darrynton Evans for the RB2 spot. It's safe to assume that it'll be difficult for him to outperform Davis, who is clearly held in a higher regard due to his draft position. However, they have similar playing styles, so they could be used together if incumbent starter James Cook goes down.
As for Cook, he is just 24, so Gore Jr. will have to wait for quite a while until he gets a bigger opportunity. But we've seen UDFAs burst onto the scene, especially if they're as motivated as Gore Jr. Even though he was absent for most of his youth, Gore Jr. still adores his father, going as far as calling him his "best friend." He would love to make his father proud, and not many players have that chip on their shoulders.
Frank Gore Jr. Fantasy Football Outlook
If Gore Jr. impresses in training camp and the preseason, he can beat out Johnson and Evans for the RB3 spot in Buffalo. He also has a big advantage over Davis, which is his age. Gore Jr. is just 22, and Davis is 2.5 years older than him.
Frank Gore Jr. working on his receiving game
🎥 : @SalSports pic.twitter.com/C8HaBr6V7v
— BillsDigest (@billsdigest_) May 13, 2024
If Davis fails to impress as a rookie, the Bills can turn to Gore Jr. due to his age, lineage, and potential to improve. His lineage and NFL bloodline are the most important things here, as he has instincts that you just can't teach.
Overall, drafting Gore Jr. shouldn't be a priority in your drafts, but you should keep an eye on him for the future, as he has a very high floor and can give teams instant production if they give him the chance.
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