Tampa Bay entered the offseason with a lot of questions at running back, but plenty of options, too. So much so that it seemed possible the team would just part ways with Doug Martin, rather than pay his hefty salary and wait out his three-game suspension to start the year.
We've come through three preseason games, though, and it's painfully clear that Martin isn't going anywhere. He's the best running back on the roster, and it's not particularly close.
Jacquizz Rodgers will open as the starter. He got all the playing time in the first half on Saturday, and was their most consistent, effective back a year ago. But it's a very low bar. If you do nothing more than set aside Rodgers' big game against a comically inept San Francisco defense last year, Rodgers rushed 103 times for 406 yards -- 3.9 per carry. That actually looks good compared to his preseason (2.9 yards per carry) and his work on Saturday (3.4). He's not a good running back, and no way does he keep Martin out of the lineup once the suspension ends.
The rest of Tampa's running possibilities the first three weeks are worse. Peyton Barber and Jeremy McNichols each averaged 3.1 yards per carry. McNichols was the team's fifth-round pick and Dirk Koetter indicates he might not even make the roster. Considering Martin's suspension gives the team an extra roster spot to play with the first three weeks, that's remarkable.
Charles Sims is a third-down back. He averaged 2.9 yards per carry last season. The Bucs didn't even give him a look as a running back in the exhibitions; he carried the ball 5 times. If I was looking at starting Rodgers the first three games I'd at least have given Sims a shot, but clearly they've seen enough.
So I imagine I'll be selecting Martin in a draft or two. It's not like a year ago when you could draft LeVeon Bell and know that once he served his three-game suspension you might have a fantasy MVP on your roster. But in Martin you will have the starting running back in what should be a very good offense, once you get through those first three weeks.
--Andy Richardson