The 2015 NFL regular season has not yet started and the Indianapolis Colts are already preparing for the playoffs. And why not? Here's a team that is big-time favorites in an otherwise less-than-stellar AFC South. 

In order to contend for a conference title when all is said and done, the Colts need new running back Frank Gore to be fresh and healthy. So much like the latter stages of his San Francisco 49ers career, the 32-year-old running back will be put on a pitch count. 

Chuck Pagano says that starting running back Frank Gore will be on a pitch count, at least to start the season. Need him for playoffs.

— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) September 9, 2015

While it's not yet known what the Colts head coach meant by this, we are likely looking at between 15-20 attempts per game with the 20-attempt marker being the absolute ceiling, at least for now. 

With a tremendously favorable schedule against some of the worst run defenses in the NFL, this shouldn't alarm fantasy owners. Though, you are likely going to pay extra attention to matchups here. A pitch count against good run defenses isn't necessarily ideal in the fantasy football world. 

Gore's current ADP has him as the 14th running back off the board. That's likely his absolute ceiling this season.