When Lovie Smith mentioned to the media that rookie running back Charles Sims "gives us a little more in the passing game than what we've had," it suggested that the rookie is already slotted into a role as the passing downs back for the Bucs.
This is important to note, Fantasy fans, because Doug Martin has previously displayed that he's a good receiver out of the backfield. He caught 49 passes for 472 yards as a rookie and 12 passes for 66 yards in six games last season. By not having that role as part of his regular workload, Martin could lose anywhere from three to eight touches per week to Sims.
Naturally, Martin is still going to start and remain the primary rusher for the Bucs so long as he's effective. But we think Sims will be locked into that passing-downs role if he can keep up the good hands through training camp. If Martin were to lose playing time it would not be a lock that Sims would pick up the reps -- this is a team that still has Mike James and Bobby Rainey on it. They can work rushing downs.
Martin is still a Top 12-ish Fantasy running back. Sims is worth a mid- to late-round pick in all leagues, especially and obviously PPR formats.