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Fantasy Football NFC South rankings for 2016: Doug Martin

By Freddie Boston

Nov 1, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) carries the ball in front of Atlanta Falcons strong safety Kemal Ishmael (36) in overtime at the Georgia Dome. The Buccaneers won 23-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin (22) carries the ball in front of Atlanta Falcons strong safety Kemal Ishmael (36) in overtime at the Georgia Dome. The Buccaneers won 23-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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We continue our “Falcons 50” countdown with a look at the top five fantasy football players in the NFC South for 2016. Falcons football is just 23 days away. You can follow along with the full countdown here.

Top NFC South fantasy players of 2016: #3 Doug Martin

Doug Martin bounced back in a big way last season. After two injury-hit, disappointing campaigns, Martin carved out 1,402 yards on the ground with six touchdowns. A fantasy stud.

Martin will once again be the focal point of the Buccaneers offense. While Jameis Winston may take some of the spotlight, moving the ball on the ground remains a priority. And Martin has proven his rookie season was no fluke, he can back it up.

Last season’s numbers

Games: 15

Yards: 1,673

Touchdowns: 7

Fantasy points: 200.80

Positional ranking: 3

So where does Martin fit onto your fantasy team? Is he a RB1? It’s tough to trust him in that spot despite finishing as the third-best running back in fantasy last year.

Realistically, Martin makes a great RB2 this year, an even better flex. He’ll once again finish in the top-15 running backs league-wide, and importantly he’s a starter. Owning starting running backs around the NFL is a good habit to get into.

Due to the wealth of talent at wide receiver and the big names at running back ahead of Martin, he may well fall outside of the top four rounds. In such a case, you should look to lock him up to your team. Despite his excellent 2015, he still isn’t viewed as a flashy pick.

Can Martin back it up? Absolutely—and he can play a vital role in your fantasy football championship bid. Get him drafted to your team as a safe RB2. A better Tampa Bay offense will help him post similar numbers to 2015.

Next: Falcons 50: The full countdown to kickoff

And Martin may be an unsung hero for your team.

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