Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin was at practice on Thursday, according to Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune. Martin is dealing with a knee injury he sustained against the Carolina Panthers in the season opener. He left that game after getting 10 touches, and he also missed practice on Wednesday.
Doug Martin at practice Thursday, expected to play against Rams; fantasy value still decent
Doug Martin was back at practice on Thursday and is expected to play against the St. Louis Rams. We break down the fantasy implications.
Cliff McBride
Martin carried the ball nine times for a total of 9 yards before he went out with his injury. He also caught one pass for seven yards. Obviously, it was not a great game, which isn’t what Buccaneers fans wanted to see given Martin’s 2013 season was shortened by injury. He played in just six games in 2013 after starting all 16 games as a rookie in 2012.
Fantasy Impact: That said, Martin still has a ton of upside. Once he's healthy, he can be a force and it's not surprising at all that he struggled against a team as good at stopping the run as the Panthers. Martin practicing on Thursday is a good indication that he was just resting on Wednesday, and he's expected to be in the lineup against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. The Rams have a strong run defense, but Martin should be able to be productive if healthy.
