Stock Watch: What's in store for Gore?

San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Singletary announced the firing of offensive coordinator Mike Martz on Tuesday, which shouldn't be much off a surprise considering the their contrasting personalities.

From a fantasy perspective, this could mean more consistency from Frank Gore (pictured) in 2009.

I'm no football genius, but my guess is Singletary wants Gore to be like a certain RB who used to play for the Chicago Bears. We're not saying that Gore will in fact be the next Walter Payton, but Singletary likely will hire a coach with "an establish the run first" philosophy.

So what do we make of Gore heading into next season?

Gore wasn't horrible this season. He hit 1,000 yards for the third straight year, and he totaled eight TDs. Gore's production in the second half of the season, however, was disappointing.

He had just 407 yards and 2 TDs in San Francisco's final eight games after racking up 629 with 4 TDS in the first half. Gore did not score a rushing TD after Week 11.

The emergence of DeShaun Foster didn't help. Foster averaged 47.5 rushing yards in the 49ers' last four games. He could steal more carries from Gore to start next season.

As a result, Gore likely could fall from a first round pick in 2008 to a middle-of-the-second-rounder in '09. Depending on who Singletary brings in to call the plays, Gore could be the steal of the draft at that point.

From a personal standpoint, I won't be drafting Gore in the first or second round next season. I needed Gore to deliver late in the season (Weeks 12-13), and in those two games he totaled 92 rushing yards, 29 receiving yards and no TDs. You need more from a first-round stud, especially when it counts.

Your thoughts? Will you gamble on Gore in the first round again?

(sportingnews.com)