The biggest strike against Doug Martin headed into the season was that a running back the Bucs new coaching staff drafted, one with the same skill set as Martin, would cut into his playing time. That was Charles Sims, and he had the look of being at least a passing downs back for Tampa Bay.
But now that Sims is out until at least Week 10 because of an ankle injury, Martin is back in the saddle as the guy the Buccaneers have to lean on. Mike James and Bobby Rainey will probably spend the rest of the preseason competing for the spot vacated by Sims, but the team has to be more comfortable leaning on Martin. The threat of someone cutting into his carries is gone. Martin will start to pick up steam as a borderline No. 1/No. 2 Fantasy rusher in the coming days.