Fantasy Upside
As a rookie Doug Martin made owners happy with his 1,926 all-purpose yards and 12 touchdowns. That potential made him a top pick in 2013 drafts, but after six games, his season was cut short. Now, the Bucs’ RB is headed into his third season ready to prove his worth again.
Rookie running back Charles Sims was expected to take touches away from Martin this season, but he injured himself during training camp. Sims' injury will have him out 12-14 weeks at least.
Fantasy Downside
Martin was struggling last season even before his injury. He had one good game against New Orleans, but that was about it. He had a poor 3.6 yards per carry and only found the endzone once.
The Buccaneers are also looking to lessen the workload of Martin this season. Bobby Rainey, Mike James and Jeff Demps are expected to get touches. Martin averaged over 20 touches per game during the last two seasons.
Another concern for Martin this season is the offensive line he’s running behind. Carl Nicks was forced to retire leaving Tampa with a mess at the position. Martin will have a difficult time finding running lanes.
Bottom Line
Martin is the potential top-five fantasy back he was a year ago. Expectations aren’t as high for him this season. He’s still viewed as a strong player, but he’s not amongst the elite at the position. He’s a low-end RB1 or high-end RB2.