Fantasy football: Fade Le’Veon Bell, just in “Gase”

Expect Bell’s workload – and fantasy floor – to decrease dramatically.

Prior to signing Gore, Jets’ head coach Adam Gase was already on record about reducing Bell’s usage with a “less is more” approach:

"Coach Adam Gase has a plan. It involves a scheme adjustment and a “less is more” approach to Bell’s usage. “I do think we have some guys that can help maybe lessen the load on [Bell] to where it’s not all on him,” Gase said. “Hopefully, we can get some of the younger backs to where we can make a good one-two punch to where we can really excel instead of feeling like it’s just all on him all the time.”"

Did we mention that Gase candidly adores Frank Gore and still believes he can be a bellcow, workhorse RB?

"“Those two guys can really do some damage together,” Gase said in an interview with the team’s website. “We have two guys that can play all three downs. They both have outstanding skill sets. There’s a little bit of difference in their running style and how they do things, but we know Frank really well and we know how to use them.” …”Frank brings something that is really hard to teach…He’s a natural leader,” Gase added. “He’s the kind of guy that guys respect around the NFL.”"

Gase continued to gush about Gore:

"“This guy goes in practice like it’s Monday Night Football.’ That’s how Frank has always operated. He’s never taken anything for granted. I think the biggest mistake most people make is they doubt him and they tell him something that he can’t do whether it was injury, age or whatever the circumstance may be. He’s proven people wrong time and time again.”"

And here’s Gore’s take on the situation:

"Gore said Gase told him in 2008 that if he ever became a head coach and Gore was still playing that he would sign him. That came true in 2018 when Gase was the Dolphins coach and Gore was a free agent. The Dolphins had Kenyan Drake as their starting running back, but Gore said Gase told him what his role would be. “The situation then was basically the same situation going into this year,” Gore said. “They already had their guy and he just told me to come in and do what I could to help the team and when my number was called, make plays. That’s what I did. That’s what I’m looking forward to doing this year. Adam was always 100 percent with me. I respect him a lot.”"

Plus, it’s no secret that Gase absolutely hated Bell’s contract, believing they overpaid heavily not just for the man but for the position itself. With that much animosity brewing, it’s easy to see why he chose to sign Gore, who will not only consume Bell’s workload but will also mentor the remaining younger RBs on the team that will eventually replace him.

Conclusion

Le’Veon Bell is currently being drafted as an RB2 with a fourth round ADP, but in mock drafts he has been going a round or two earlier. The growing public opinion is that he will maintain his high usage and can only improve from last year, but coach Gase’s planned usage changes and the team’s consistently poor O-line will prevent a resurgence from happening. Gore will have more involvement than necessary, lowering Bell’s floor and upside.

Bold take: Don’t draft Le’Veon Bell at his current ADP. Draft Chicago Bear’s 2nd-year running back David Montgomery over a round later instead. He’s cheaper for likely the same RB2 output and upside that most are expecting from Bell.