These undefeated San Francisco 49ers aren't staying a well-kept secret for very long.
The 49ers announced that running back Frank Gore was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week following his 207-yard, two touchdown performance in a win over the Seattle Seahawks.
Sure, these awards are nice, but they're not what's really important. What's really important is that Frank Gore is the most prolific Fantasy Football running back in the NFL this season. Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football's point ranking system has awarded Gore 38.70 fantasy points this season. Consensus top-pick Adrian Peterson has a point less at 37.70, and Chris Johnson of the Titans is at 35.60.
So Gore's monster start to the season isn't just good for 49er fans. His fantasy production has been a great consolation for Lions, Jaguars, and Browns fans nationwide whose Sundays are ruined by the fact that their real-life teams can't win a game, but their fantasy teams are doing nicely because of Gore.
The honors and distinctions for Frank Gore don't stop there. Gore's 80-yard circus run against the Seahawks was also immortalized as Deadspin's NFL Highlight of the Week. Deadspin's NFL Highlight of the Week is the week's top play, recreated in a cardboard box using a gerbil and a tree frog wearing tiny plastic versions of the relevant teams' helmets, because they are not allowed to use actual NFL footage. The mouse is prompted to recreate the offense's play while the frog plays defense, and the audio of the game call is edited in for proper perspective.
You think that's silly? I bet you watch that frog-and-mouse replay more times than you did the replay of Gore's actual run, as it is every bit as entertaining far more hilarious.
Gore's prolific game sets up a powerhouse running back showdown, as this week the Niners face Adrian Peterson and the also-undefeated Minnesota Vikings. Peterson gets more publicity, but so far Frank Gore has quietly had a more successful season.
Gore will hope to maintain the better pace, even if he is quiet -- quiet as a gerbil.
Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who is happy he ignored all those magazines that said not to draft Frank Gore until the second round.
