Doug Martin: Why You Should Target Buccaneers RB in Your Fantasy Draft

With news coming from head coach Greg Schiano (via the Tampa Bay Times) that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have chosen rookie Doug Martin as the team's starting running back, fantasy football fanatics across America have a new golden boy rising up draft boards.

The 23-year-old Martin was Tampa's No. 31 overall pick in April's draft and had been competing with incumbent starter LeGarrette Blount for the position.

A two-year starter in Boise State's dynamic offensive attack, Martin put up 3,280 yards and 42 touchdowns in his career in Bronco blue. He'll walk into Week 1 with an offense that mightily struggled in 2011 and that hopes to bounce back to its form from two seasons ago.

But for fantasy owners, all that matters is how Martin does for their team.

With the starting job in place, here's a look at why you should take a chance on Martin in your fantasy draft. 

Coach Greg Schiano Has Success With Similar RBs

It's no coincidence that Schiano's first big-time move as Bucs head coach was trading into the back half of the first round for Martin.

In Schiano's most successful season at Rutgers in 2006, when he went 11-2 and won the Texas Bowl, the catalyst to the year was a running back that should be familiar to all fantasy football owners: Baltimore Ravens star Ray Rice.

And when you compare Martin to Rice, you can see the glaring similarities between these two backs.

During that magical season, Rice rushed for 1,794 yards and 20 touchdowns while finishing seventh in the Heisman Trophy balloting. And Rice's rate of 16.25 carries per touchdown in his final two seasons as a Scarlet Knight was in the upper crust of college football.

While he played in a more pass-happy offense last season at Boise State, Martin still put up gaudy numbers. His 1,299 yards in 2011 ranked 19th in the nation, and like Rice, the 23-year-old former Bronco has a nose for the end zone. Martin's rate of 16.57 carries per touchdown almost eerily matches that of Rice.

They're even eerily similar in stature, as Rice stands 5'8" and weighs 212 pounds while Martin is 5'9" and 223 pounds.

If Schiano can even get a modicum of similar production from Martin, both first-year guys should have sensational seasons.

It's His Job, Not a Timeshare

Despite his status as starter, some still expect Martin to split carries with incumbent starter LeGarrette Blount.

Don't count on that happening—at least initially. Schiano typically doesn't like to split carries between his backs, and when the Bucs coach announced the move, he seemed to make it clear that Martin is the No. 1 guy.

Via the Tampa Bay Times: 

"

It doesn’t mean that that’s it. As I’ve told them, "It could go the other way if you outperform (Martin)." We don’t hand out jobs and sign them over. It’s always competition around here, continually. I think Doug’s done a great job and that’s why he’s got the No. 1 seat. But he’s got to work to keep it.

"

If Martin continues his solid play into the regular season, there is little reason to think we'll see Blount outside of the occasional spell opportunity and in short yardage. The latter may hurt Martin in terms of touchdowns, but he'll more than make up for it in yard production. 

Martin Is a Steal for Where He's Being Drafted

While the Bucs starter is ascending rapidly up draft boards as we close in on the season, his average draft position is way too low. 

According to ESPN live draft results, Martin is currently being drafted in the sixth or seventh round depending on the size of your league with an average draft position of 66.6. 

In theory, that's about right. Martin is an unproven rookie running back, a trait that recent history tells us spells doom for fantasy football owners. Nevertheless, considering he's currently the 24th running back being taken, behind guys like Stevan Ridley and BenJarvus Green-Ellis, his ADP is asinine compared to his potential.

If you can get Martin in the late fourth or early fifth round, don't hesitate to take the risk. If he performs as expected, the Tampa Bay back could hold the key to a fantasy playoff berth. 

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