LaMichael James

This year is shaping up as 49ers RB Frank Gore's biggest battle since he played for the Hurricanes.

He's 31, ancient in running back years, and is surrounded by younger players, including two of the most highly regarded runners in the last two drafts, Marcus Lattimore and Carlos Hyde. Lattimore's challenge of Gore may be delayed. When the 49ers' first practice of training camp began Thursday, he was on the physically-unable-to-perform list as he continues to come back from his 2012 knee injury.

If the 49ers are eying a running-back-by-committee approach this season, they're not letting on.

Gore already lost two of his potential backups, though. Kendall Hunter is done for the year and LaMichael James is going to miss all of the preseason. That leaves Hyde as his main competition at the moment in camp until Lattimore returns, so it looks like Gore could emerge as a guy to again get significant work, perhaps especially early on in the season. Gore's age and previous workload are a little scary and because of that we have him ranked 23rd among our backs with an ADP of the 7th round. He looks to be a good depth option for your team, and if you can land him as an RB3, you should be in pretty good shape with your fantasy backfield.