The Tampa Bay Buccaneers plan on spelling running back Doug Martin to keep him fresh in 2014, according to Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.
Buccaneers want to avoid overusing Doug Martin; fantasy value still high
Doug Martin will be giving up a few touches to other running backs this year. We break down the fantasy implications.
Melina Vastola-USA TODAY Sports
Martin was a very productive back in 2012 and looked solid before sustaining an injury in 2013, causing him to appear in just six games. However, Martin’s debut season also saw him carry the ball 319 times, with another 49 touches from receptions.
That's enough for folks to believe Martin was "overused" as a rookie two years ago. It's also something that's not likely to happen under head coach Lovie Smith, who plans to rotate in guys like Bobby Rainey, Charles Sims and Mike James, according to Yasinskas. Martin averaged over 20 touches per game during his first two seasons.
Fantasy Impact: It’s hard to imagine Rainey, Sims and James taking more than a few touches from Martin each week. If 20-plus was his baseline and the Buccaneers stick to this and actually spell him here and there, he’ll still probably average between 16 and 20 touches per game.
Fantasy owners should be more concerned about the fact that the Buccaneers are a mess when it comes to the offensive line. The team is still looking for help along the interior of said line. Martin remains the featured back in Tampa Bay, meaning he’s still an excellent fantasy option, but there are a few concerns.
