Who Should I Start? Jaret Patterson or Frank Gore Jr.

Monday, December 1, 6:41 PM

Los Angeles Chargers running back Jaret Patterson carried the ball 11 times for 54 yards and a touchdown in the team's 31-14 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. After being signed to the active roster early last week, Patterson served as the primary back behind Kimani Vidal as the Chargers totaled 192 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Patterson looked decisive and scored his first rushing touchdown of the season as the offense relied heavily on the ground game following Justin Herbert's hand injury. Looking ahead, rookie Omarion Hampton's return from IR is imminent after his 21-day practice window opened last week, which would move Patterson behind Hampton and Vidal. Next Monday night, the Bolts face a Philadelphia Eagles defense that has recently been vulnerable against the run. However, Patterson's fantasy value depends entirely on Hampton's availability in Week 14. If Hampton returns, Patterson might not even see the field. If he doesn't, Patterson will remain a depth piece with a few change-of-pace carries.

Saturday, August 23, 11:50 PM

Buffalo Bills running back Frank Gore Jr. led the Bills in yards from scrimmage for the third straight week in a 23-19 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Saturday. Gore amassed 61 total yards (32 rushing, 29 receiving) on 10 carries and two catches, and he scored his lone touchdown of the preseason on a one-yard run in the first quarter. In all, the hard-running 23-year-old piled up 104 yards on the ground on 23 attempts and hauled in 11 catches for another 109 yards in three preseason contests. Even though Gore stood out in Buffalo's exhibition games, he doesn't have a clear path to a roster spot with James Cook, Ray Davis, and Ty Johnson ahead of him on the depth chart. Odds are that the former Southern Miss standout will either wind up on the Bills' practice squad for the second year in a row or join another team via waivers before the season. He made a compelling case that he's an NFL-caliber back during the preseason.