Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Doug Martin A Huge Fantasy Sleeper

ByJoel Childers|

We all remember the highlights from 2012.

Doug Martin breaks away for a big run. Doug Martin plows through a linebacker. Doug Martin jukes and spins his way into the secondary. Doug Martin stiff-arms a defensive back. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers knew they had someone really special in their new starting running back. In his rookie season in 2014, Martin managed 1,926 yards from scrimmage and 12 total touchdowns.

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Then came 2013. After starting only six games and averaging just 3.6 yards per carry, Martin tore his labrum and missed the remainder of the season.

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This was followed by a 2014 season which saw Martin play in only 11 games, average only 3.7 yards per carry and be outshined by undrafted back Bobby Rainey. Whether it was worse blocking, a struggling offense, injuries, or something else that caused Martin’s production to decline, he seemed to have lost the faith of his team and fantasy owners alike.

2015 could be the season he turns it all back around.

In 2012, Martin finished as the No. 2 overall player in fantasy, behind only Adrian Peterson in his MVP season, when he finished the season 9 yards shy of Eric Dickerson‘s single-season rushing record. In ESPN Standard Scoring, Martin had only four games that season where he finished under 10 fantasy points, and had games of 22, 33, and 51 points. He was dominant, and helped fantasy owners win their leagues.

Sadly, the next two seasons he finished 57th and 47th respectfully in total fantasy points among running backs. But now, Martin thinks he could be back to his rookie form. He believes he’s healthier now than he has been at all since his rookie season, according to ESPN’s Pat Yasinskas.

He’s impressed his team during training camp, and Buccaneers head coach Lovie Smith things Martin is set to be the team’s top running back:

"“We would just like for him to continue what he’s been doing,” Smith said of Martin (via ESPN’s Pat Yasinskas). “We’ve all taken notice. It seems like he has a little more bounce to his step, running with confidence. And he needs to. It’s an important year for Doug and for our football team to establish the run game and Doug’s our starting tailback. We talk about the commitment to the run. He’s done it before. There’s no reason he can’t do it again.”"

With a rookie quarterback taking the helm, the Buccaneers may be looking to lean even more heavily on the run game in 2015, which could mean there are a lot of carries to go around in the Tampa Bay backfield. Martin will certainly split some of those with Bobby Rainey and Charles Sims, but if he can prove himself to be as dominant as he was in his rookie year, most of those yards will be his.

Doug Martin is currently being drafted as the 33rd running back in ESPN drafts (per ESPN’s Live Draft Results), and the 93rd player overall, which would put him in the 9th round of a standard 10-team league. In 15% of leagues, he isn’t even being drafted. While this draft position doesn’t seem outrageously low, Martin’s potential for stardom could warrant a much higher draft spot.

The team as a whole should be improved from the 2014 season, and while rookie Jamies Winston may have an uphill battle at quarterback, the team believes he can be the answer for them. Fellow rookies Donovan Smith and Ali Marpet should help strengthen the offensive line, and a few defensive free-agent additions should improve 2014’s worst team.

No the Buccaneers aren’t likely to be in the hunt for a Super Bowl, but they are hoping to be better than last year, and that can only be good for Doug Martin. If he can stay healthy and keep his job as the starting running back, he could be in for a very productive season.

Aug 6, 2015; Tampa Bay, FL, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) runs with the ball as he works out during training camp at One Buc Place. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

He’s shown that he has the ability to consistently be an excellent fantasy player throughout a full season, and he hopes to do that again in 2014. Getting him in the 9th round of a fantasy draft would be a huge steal if he can finish in the top 20 among running backs in terms of fantasy production.

Some of the running backs being taken ahead of Martin are Ryan Matthews, C.J. Spiller, LeGarrette Blount, Tevin Coleman, and Isaiah Crowell – all players not guaranteed to even be the lead back on their respective teams.

Martin has already shown us he has the talent to be one of the best fantasy players in the league, and yet he does not even need to be among the NFL’s best to have excellent value at the position he is being drafted.

Currently, 22 running backs are being taken in the top five rounds of fantasy drafts, and if Martin can finish the season among the 20 best running backs, he would give his fantasy owners (most of whom are drafting him in the 9th round) excellent value.

He’s had two disappointing seasons, so relying on Doug Martin as a starter in Week 1 may be a bit of a risk, but anyone looking for a potential gem in the mid-to-late rounds of their drafts should turn Martin’s direction.

He’s got the skills to be elite, and if he can put together another excellent season, he could be the key piece to a victorious fantasy football team.

Next: Buccaneers: Is Ray Rice A Good Fit?

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