** FILE ** Green Bay Packers running back Samkon Gado (35) breaks away from Detroit Lions' safety Kenoy Kennedy (26) during the second quarter of NFL football Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, in Green Bay, Wis. Gado has been one of the bright spots in an otherwise dismal season for the Green Bay Packers. That hasn't changed, even after a knee injury has ended the rookie running back's season prematurely.(AP Photo/Mike Roemer, File)

Samkon Gado.

Unless you are a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan and/or know your NFL history, that name probably does not register. But if you were playing fantasy football in 2005 and were fortunate enough to pick this guy up off the waiver wire, he probably led you to a fantasy title.

You see Gado was not even on the Packers roster until late October after the undrafted free agent was released by Kansas City. He impressed Green Bay enough in a workout to earn a spot on its practice squad.

The story should’ve ended there, but season-ending injuries to then-starter Ahman Green and backup Najeh Davenport put Gado on the active roster. He made his debut on Oct. 30, 2005, receiving one carry for 8 yards in a loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Losses were becoming common for the Packers, a team that began with loads of promise, but were in the midst of a 1-6 season. So Gado was listed as the No. 2 running back on the depth chart when the Packers played the Pittsburgh Steelers. Tony Fisher was listed as the starter, but it was Gado who accumulated 62 yards on 26 carries and a touchdown.

He followed that up with 103 yards and two touchdowns a week later in his first start.

This was part of a dream, five-week stretch that saw Gado, playing on a team that was 1-7 and going nowhere, rush for 467 yards and five touchdowns.

Owners who took a flier on Gado suddenly saw their teams post five-game win streaks. Remember, these were the days when PPR (point-per-reception) leagues were not as prevalent, so running backs meant everything.

So, why is all of this important in 2013?

One name: Bobby Rainey.

Rainey, who began the season on the Cleveland Browns before being released — and was listed fourth on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers depth chart — made his first NFL start last week against the Atlanta Falcons.

The only reason Rainey was afforded this opportunity is because of season-ending injuries to Bucs starter Doug Martin and second-string Mike James. Rainey saw his first action as the backup to third-string Brian Leonard, but impressed with a touchdown in a Monday Night Football win over the Dolphins two weeks ago.

So last week, the Bucs decided to give Rainey more work.

Stop me if this story sounds familiar …

Rainey, like Gado eight years ago, went off to the tune of 163 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 30 carries. He also caught a touchdown pass.

Fantasy owners desperate for running back help and needing a spark — like myself — were rewarded with a monster fantasy week from a guy who was basically a plug-in and hope player.

He propelled my team, the Last Action Heroes, to its best performance of the season (152-69 win) and put the Heroes one win away from a playoff spot.

So now the real question …

Is this Gado 2013 or was Rainey a one-hit wonder?

I am hoping for the former, but prepared for the latter by acquiring Ben Tate in a trade because I am still really thin at running back.

Regardless if you believe this can continue, Rainey is worth a roster spot on every team.

There is something I left out on that Gado story. The Sunday after he delivered those monster numbers against the Steelers, Gado crashed back to earth with 7 yards on 10 carries in a Nov. 21 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

That probably led many owners to drop Gado believing they’d gotten all they could from the undrafted free agent.

Well, his next three games after that — which was many fantasy leagues’ playoff weeks — Gado rushed for 111 yards and a touchdown, 75 yards and a touchdown and, finally, 171 yards and a touchdown.

Drop Rainey at your own peril.

———

Last week of byes for the 2013 season: Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks and Cincinnati Bengals are all off this week.

Some running backs to pick up for those forced to scramble without Marshawn Lynch or Lesean McCoy: Bobby Rainey (duh), Shane Vereen (PPR monster who needs to be grabbed now, and if you’re desperate for a one-week play, Saints’ Mark Ingram (plays the Falcons on Thursday, which were just shredded by Rainey).

Possible quarterback replacements for Russell Wilson or Andy Dalton: Josh McCown or Mike Glennon. McCown is playing at least one more week for the Bears for injured starter Jay Cutler while Glennon is getting it done for the Bucs.

Possible receiver replacements for A.J. Green or Desean Jackson: Jerricho Cotchery, Rueben Randle or Santonio Holmes. Cotchery and Randle have been delivering for weeks for the Steelers and Giants while Holmes is the Jets’ top receiver who has recently returned from injury.

Good luck to everyone this week in making a playoff push.