The Tampa Bay Buccaneers projected to be a strong running team this season, and they've managed to pick up some good yardage, just in an unexpected way. Starter Doug Martin played poorly in the season opener, and the Buccaneers abandoned the run as they fell behind. Martin also suffered an injury, giving Bobby Rainey the start and the bulk of the carries.
Fantasy football start/sit advice, Week 3: Doug Martin, Bobby Rainey
It’s difficult to ignore the state of the Atlanta Falcons run defense, but there are a lot of question marks regarding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back situation. We break down the fantasy implications.
Cliff McBride
Rainey carried the ball 22 times for 144 yards and added another three receptions for 30 yards in the passing game last week. It was a big performance against the St. Louis Rams' generally strong run defense. Now there's a bit of a controversy in Tampa Bay -- or is there? Head coach Lovie Smith has been adamant about using multiple backs, but that idea didn't surface in the first game. Rainey's performance in Week 2 may have forced Smith to follow his original plans.
Fantasy Impact: That strategy would still leave Martin as the starter, provided he’s healthy. Martin has a lot of potential as a starting running back, and if he can’t hold off Rainey, there’s a problem. He didn’t get a ton of opportunities in Week 1, however, meaning he is still a guy who fantasy owners should watch for a break out.
If he's healthy and in action on Thursday, he's likely worth a start as the team's primary back, regardless of Week 2. Owners with more depth at the position may want to avoid the Buccaneers altogether, though, and give someone else a start on Sunday rather than risk an early disadvantage on Thursday. However, it's hard to ignore the fact that the Falcons have allowed the most yards of any team in the NFL.
