Looking for a spark in their running game, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have slowly phased Doug Martin out of the offense. Peyton Barber has been getting more run in recent weeks and emerged as the new starter in Week 14, replacing Martin after he lost a fumble in the second quarter.
Fantasy football Week 16: Peyton Barber, start or sit?
Barber replaced Doug Martin as the Bucs’ starting running back. We break down the fantasy implications.
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Last week, the Bucs made Martin a healthy scratch and started Barber against the Atlanta Falcons. The results were a bit mixed — Barber had trouble finding holes most of the night and lost a crucial fumble, but he still finished with a respectable stat line of 68 total yards on 16 touches, including three catches.
Fantasy impact: With Martin fallen out of favor, it appears to be Barber’s job the rest of the way. He’s not lacking for volume opportunity, averaging 18.7 touches over the past three weeks. The big problem is his matchup with the Carolina Panthers, who are giving up the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. Barber is a risky flex play for the last week of the fantasy football season.
Recommendation: Start if you’re desperate
