2013 RB Fantasy Football Rankings: Doug Martin Top Running Back on Draft Day?

Coming out of Boise State, some draftniks felt Doug Martin had the skills required to be a three-down workhorse for an NFL team. Martin has it all, but one thing we failed to see from him in the early going was big plays in the running game or in the passing game.

This led to LeGarrette Blount working with Martin for a short time in a committee, but by week six, we started to see the big plays come from the talented rookie with a 23-yard run and a 42-yard reception against the Chiefs.

That performance was followed up with a 36-yard touchdown run against the Saints the next week, and by the time their week eight Thursday night game against the Vikings came along, Martin was the feature back again.

Against the Vikings, Martin carried the football 29 times for 135-yards and a rushing score, but it was his 64-yard reception for a touchdown that was just as impressive.

We all know what happened the following week as Martin shocked the fantasy world with his 251-yards and four rushing touchdowns in his hometown of Oakland, CA, bolting him into the fantasy elite.

Martin finished up the season with 319 carries for 1,454 yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. He also added 49 receptions for 472 yards through the air. With such impressive numbers, there is no surprise that he is regarded as one of the top five selections in 2013 fantasy drafts.

On To Bigger And Better Things?

Not only did Martin post elite numbers, but he did so despite losing his feature back role for three weeks, and without Pro Bowl guards Carl Nicks (injured receiver after week seven) and Davin Joseph (injured reserve during the preseason) for most of the season.

Both guards are primed to return and that will be a huge boost for Martin. Not sure if we will see Martin improve on his 4.6 yard per carry average, mainly because defenses will pay more attention to him and he’s likely to carry the football up to or over 350 times.

Expect big things from Martin in 2013, and I wouldn’t blame you if you took him over Adrian Peterson as the top selection in your draft. As per my rankings, Martin is sitting just behind Peterson as the second running back in all league scoring formats and the second player overall we should target on draft day.

While Martin posted some impressive numbers in his rookie season, we shouldn’t expect a sophomore slump, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he surpasses his numbers from a year ago.

1	Adrian Peterson, MIN
2	Doug Martin, TB
3	Arian Foster, HOU
4	Ray Rice, BAL
5	LeSean McCoy, PHI
6	Jamaal Charles, KC
7	Trent Richardson, CLE
8	C.J. Spiller, BUF
9	Marshawn Lynch, SEA
10	Alfred Morris, WAS
11	Steven Jackson, ATL
12	Matt Forte, CHI
13	Stevan Ridley, NE
14	Frank Gore, SF
15	Chris Johnson, TEN
16	Reggie Bush, DET
17	Maurice Jones-Drew, JAX (I)
18	Darren McFadden, OAK
19	David Wilson, NYG
20	DeMarco Murray, DAL
21	Lamar Miller, MIA
22	Chris Ivory, NYJ
23	Ryan Mathews, SD
24	Le’Veon Bell, PIT
25	Ahmad Bradshaw, IND
26	Darren Sproles, NO
27	Montee Ball, DEN
28	BenJarvus Green-Ellis, CIN
29	Rashard Mendenhall, ARZ
30	Zac Stacy, STL
31	Jonathan Stewart, CAR (I)
32	Pierre Thomas, NO
33	Ronnie Hillman, DEN
34	Eddie Lacy, GB (I)
35	Daryl Richardson, STL
36	DeAngelo Williams, CAR
37	Andre Brown, NYG
38	Johnathan Franklin, GB
39	Ben Tate, HOU
40	Shane Vereen, NE
41	Bryce Brown, PHI
42	Mark Ingram, NO
43	Giovani Bernard, CIN
44	Robert Turbin, SEA
45	Fred Jackson, BUF
46	Christine Michael, SEA
47	Joique Bell, DET
48	Bernard Pierce, BAL
49	Joseph Randle, DAL
50	Kendall Hunter, SF (I)
51	Justin Forsett, JAX
52	Danny Woodhead, SD
53	Mikel Leshoure, DET
54	Vick Ballard, IND
55	Ryan Williams, ARZ
56	LaMichael James, SF
57	Isaac Redman, PIT
58	Isaiah Pead, STL
59	Jacquizz Rodgers, ATL
60	Shonn Greene, TEN
61	Mike Goodson, NYJ
62	Knowshon Moreno, DEN
63	Willis McGahee, FA
64	Roy Helu, WAS
65	Michael Bush, CHI
66	Daniel Thomas, MIA
67	Mike Gillislee, MIA
68	LeGarrette Blount, NE
69	Jonathan Dwyer, PIT
70	Bilal Powell, NYJ
71	Knile Davis, KC
72	Rashad Jennings, OAK
73	Brandon Bolden, NE
74	Toby Gerhart, MIN
75	Montario Hardesty, CLE
76	Donald Brown, IND
77	Michael Turner, FA
78	Marcel Reece, OAK
79	Beanie Wells, FA
80	Kerwynn Williams, IND

2013 Fantasy Rankings: QB | WR | TE | K | D/ST