Doug Martin, Charles Sims' Post-Preseason Week 2 Fantasy Advice

Rookie quarterback Jameis Winston made most of the headlines during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 25-11 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, but fantasy football players took note of the running back situation.

Here is a look at the performances from Doug Martin and Charles Sims:

	Carries	Rushing Yards	Yards per Carry	Rushing Touchdowns	Catches	Receiving Yards	Receiving Touchdowns	Targets
Doug Martin	6	59	9.8	0	1	9	0	1
Charles Sims	3	6	2	0	2	15	0	3

The outing from Martin immediately jumps out, even if it is just preseason. After all, he is not that far removed from an incredible rookie campaign in 2012 when he tallied 1,454 rushing yards, 472 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns, and any impressive showing provides reason for optimism.

However, he suffered what can only be described as a devastating drop-off from a fantasy perspective in 2013 and 2014 when he notched a combined 950 rushing yards, 130 receiving yards and three total touchdowns. To be fair, shoulder and ankle injuries limited him to six games in 2013 and 11 in 2014, but he was far from the running back fantasy players relied on as a rookie.

Martin looked healthy again Monday, which supports his offseason comments, per Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com: “I’ve spent more time in the training room. Even if I’m not injured, it’s all about injury prevention. That’s something I’ve learned being in the league. I’ve just got to take care of my body. If I take care of my body and stay in my playbook, I’ll be just fine." 

A healthy Martin who is running with a bounce in his step is good news for fantasy players, as Jenna Laine of Sports Talk 1040 The Team suggested:

Another thing to keep in mind with Martin from a fantasy perspective is the presence of Winston in the backfield.

The best way to ease the pressure during Winston’s transition to the NFL is with a strong rushing attack. Martin can keep the Buccaneers ahead of the chains and create a number of short-yardage situations that Winston can take advantage of with his legs or arm. 

Scott Smith of Buccaneers.com noted the coaching staff is well aware of the importance of the running game alongside the rookie signal-caller:

Another way to make Winston more comfortable is with early screen passes and dump-offs so he gradually gets the feel of the game once the season starts. Martin proved in his rookie campaign that he is more than capable of getting involved in the passing attack and can serve as a checkdown when the former Florida State Seminole faces blitzes.

Brian Blanco/Associated Press

Martin should receive more touches this season just as a byproduct of playing alongside Winston, and more touches mean more opportunities for fantasy points.

Tyler Cloud of 247Sports pointed out that Martin should be motivated when he receives those touches as well:

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Quite simply, Martin is feeling pressure because he was passed on the depth chart last season by Rainey. Multiplied by the fact that a message was sent by management when they drafted Sims in 2014, Martin knows he has to return to his rookie-season form if he wants to stay in Tampa beyond 2015. The Bucs did not pick up his fifth-year player option this offseason, so essentially, the once highly-touted rookie now finds himself playing for a contract.

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There are plenty of reasons to like Martin as a fantasy option this season, especially if he looks as explosive in the regular season as he did Monday against the Bengals. He represents tremendous upside given his production during his rookie season and the fact he is still only 26 years old.

Still, even with the contract motivation, the healthy performance in the preseason and the increased opportunities he will see alongside Winston, it is impossible to ignore the red flags health-wise.

Martin presents too much risk to be a top-notch running back option based on his injuries the past two years, but he is worth a mid-round selection as the No. 2 or 3 runner on your roster. Even the mere possibility we will see something like we did in 2012 makes Martin an intriguing fantasy option.

If he proves in the first couple of weeks that he can stay healthy, fantasy owners will feel more confident with each passing game.

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

As for the running back directly behind Martin on the depth chart, the fantasy outlook is less positive for Sims.

The second-year back tallied 185 rushing yards, 190 receiving yards and a touchdown in his first season on a mere 2.8 yards per carry and didn’t exactly take full advantage of his opportunities when Martin dealt with injuries.

If Sims was a straightforward backup, it would be easier to look past those numbers and he would hold more value in fantasy circles. However, Mike James and Bobby Rainey are also options behind Martin and figure to compete for carries. James even received nine carries Monday compared to Sims’ three and demonstrated burst with 39 rushing yards.

Rainey developed into Tampa Bay’s go-to option at running back last year when Martin dealt with injuries and racked up 406 rushing yards, 315 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the process. Rainey’s versatility alone as a pass-catcher ensures he will likely see action during the 2015 season, especially on third downs.

Any playing time from Rainey cuts into Sims’ opportunities, which will already be limited assuming Martin receives the lion’s share of the snaps at running back as the starter.

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Sims may have upside as a former third-round pick with speed and power in the hole, but it is impossible for fantasy players to rely on him until he completely emerges from a crowded depth chart.

He did nothing Monday to establish himself as the go-to option behind Martin either, which would have at least provided a sense of optimism for fantasy players looking to use a flier on the former West Virginia Mountaineer.

At this point, Sims is worth monitoring as a potential waiver-wire pickup down the line at best if Martin gets hurt again. There is little reason to believe he will see enough playing time in the early going to make an impact in fantasy circles.