Brace Hemmelgarn-US Presswire
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers haven’t been one of the most predominant forces in the NFL over the last five years, and predicting how they will fare against each opponent has been nearly impossible. During this five-year span, they have been as high as having a 10-win season and as low as a three-win season, yet never finishing higher than third in their NFC South division.
Talk about inconsistent. Guessing on whether or not they will accumulate more tallies on the winning side or losing side is anyone’s guess. The only player on the Buccaneers that most fantasy team owners would say is a guaranteed lock to bring you big points this season is Doug Martin, but don’t be so quick to go all in on him quite yet.
Martin had a stunner of a rookie season. He obtained the starting job by Week 1 where he got 24 touches for 95 yards in his debut performance — not too shabby. Martin grabbed the attention of the nation in his Week 9 outing against the Oakland Raiders where he rushed for 251 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown scamper, recording four total TDs.
Was he the next star-studded fantasy back? Would Martin be able to bring that elusive fantasy champion trophy to your living room mantle?
After his unmatched Week 9 performance, Martin only topped 100 yards three times and merely added four more rushing touchdowns the rest of the season. The Bucs closed out their season by losing five of their last six, with their only winning game coming against a second-string Atlanta Falcons team in week 17. They struggled to get anything going on either side of the ball, finishing last in their division.
Many fantasy owners and so called “fantasy experts” say that Martin has proved himself to be a dominant fantasy force based on his rookie season, placing him at the no. 6 spot of the best 2013 running backs. Martin may in fact have had an astounding rookie season, but he could have the one-and-done season his recent predecessors have etched into history.
The Buccaneers are too unpredictable to use a high round pick on Martin. As I said in my Cam Newton article, consider yourself forewarned.
Tristen is a Fantasy writer for Rantsports. Follow him on twitter @TristenChalle
