Doug Martin: Will Play Against Carolina Panthers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin is expected to play against the Carolina Panthers later today according to reports from NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport. Martin had been listed as questionable with a leg injury.
Doug Martin, not Jameis Winston, is the key to the Tampa Bay offense. He was hurt much of last year and so missed the Panthers. Yet he is a physical ground pounding tailback who was quite productive his rookie year. The Buccaneers are not looking for Martin to be Christian Okoye, they are just looking for him to keep the Tampa offense on schedule. Three yards and a cloud of dust twice and Tampa will be looking at third and short. That will take pressure off of Winston and open up options for the Bucs on third down.
The Panthers need to plug that running game to put the ball into Winston’s hands in less desirable situations where they can come after him. Then he will be forced to take unwanted throws that will lead to incompletions or interceptions. We know Panthers cornerback Josh Norman is looking for those interceptions.
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If there is one place to watch for the run, then it would be behind former Patriots star Logan Mankins. Mankins was picked up in a trade last year when he had a contract dispute with the New England front office. Now he is fully integrated into the offense and Martin is the kind of back that you run right up the gut. Not only does that put him behind Mankins, but he will be able to test a Panthers linebacking corps that will be without Luke Kuechly and have a limited Thomas Davis.
The one other thing to note before you start putting Martin on your fantasy team is that he does have a history of injury and he is just coming back from injury this game. Tampa may not rush him back, which would play into the Panthers’ hands.