5 Reasons to Draft Doug Martin in Your Fantasy Football League

Doug Martin rode a spectacular 2011 campaign with the Boise State Broncos, college football's perennial underdog, to a first-round draft selection that many didn't see coming before the start of last season.

We know how integral running backs are on fantasy rosters, but you must do your homework, especially on rookies. 

Drafting the wrong running back at the wrong position in your draft can prove to be extremely costly.

Here are the five reasons to draft Doug Martin this season.  

He Has a Legitimate Chance to Win the Starting Job

As it currently stands, Doug Martin looks to be the favorite to win the starting running back role in Tampa Bay. 

Scott Reynolds of PewterReport.com, a site dedicated to covering the Buccaneers, said the following about Martin's role early in training camp: 

"

Doug Martin was taking most of the first-team reps at running back on Sunday. Martin has been one of the stars of camp and has done virtually everything right from running with decisiveness, quickness and authority to catching the ball cleanly to being as good as advertised in pass protection. 

"

Could he get any more of a ringing endorsement? 

Reynolds went on to say that LeGarrette Blount, the team's incumbent starter, "split time in a back up role and received fewer reps than Martin."

Being a team's unquestioned No. 1 back—the first reason to draft any running back in fantasy. 

He's Reminiscent of Ray Rice, and Greg Schiano's His Coach

Ray Rice and Doug Martin are short, bulky and thick in the legs, so just based on appearance, the two backs are similar. 

They both utilize a shifty side-to-side running style, but aren't afraid to lower the boom if the running lane is straight ahead and a defender is waiting. 

Don't take my word for it, though. 

Here's what guard David Jospeh said after a recent training camp practice, according to the Tampa Bay Times: "He reminds you of a Ray Rice or Maurice Jones-Drew. He's very crafty and he really understands the run game." 

Great news for Martin, as Greg Schiano, Rice's college coach, is now manning the sideline as the head man for the Buccaneers. 

Remember, Rice received a whopping 380 carries in his breakout season of 2007 at Rutgers.

He's Extremely Versatile

You don't need to read anyone's opinion on this matter. The numbers don't lie. 

From 2010 through 2011 with Boise State, Martin caught 54 passes for 593 yards and four touchdowns, along with the 2,559 yards he totaled on the ground during that span. 

He also returned 26 kickoffs and scored one return touchdown in his collegiate career. 

No, he won't be returning kicks in the NFL, but you can make the case for Martin as the nation's most versatile running back over the last two years. 

There's a great chance he'll be the team's feature back in Week 1, but he'll also be a favorite check-down option of Josh Freeman, which will make him a star in points-per-reception leagues. 

The Buccaneers Have Respectable Receiving Targets

The Buccaneers were major players in free agency this offseason, adding offensive guard Carl Nicks, cornerback Eric Wright and wideout Vincent Jackson. 

Though Nicks and Wright will have significant roles on the Buccaneers in 2012, Jackson's the flashiest acquisition and has the most potential to become a true game-changer. 

With him, Arrelious Benn and Mike Williams—a standout in 2010—Tampa Bay's receiving corps has great upside. 

Opposing defenses won't be able to stack the box against Martin with those three spread out wide. 

The Buccaneers Had the Least Amount of Rushing Attempts in 2011

The Buccaneers had an NFL-low 346 rushing attempts in 2011. 

Yikes.  

A lot of that has to do with the fact that they were frequently playing from behind and were essentially forced to throw the football, but that total is frighteningly-low nonetheless. 

Schiano knows that, and he'll use it as more motivation to implement a true ground-and-pound offensive attack to the Buccaneers organization. 

With that being the case, expect plenty of touches for Martin every Sunday, which will bring smiles to all his fantasy owners.