Skip to content

Tampa Bay's backfield could devolve into a committee with Jacquizz Rodgers back

Jeremy Brevard / USA TODAY Sports

Follow theScore's fantasy feed on Twitter (@theScoreFantasy) for the latest news, features and more. And download Squad Up, theScore's free-to-win-money sports game.

Here's a look at RB Jacquizz Rodgers choosing to re-sign with Tampa Bay on a two-year deal:

The Tampa Bay running game could be one of the hardest to predict for the 2017 season. Rodgers took over for former star RB Doug Martin during the second half last year and likely earned himself a legitimate role for the upcoming season, especially considering Martin's off-season issues.

Martin, who will miss the first three games of 2017 due to a PED suspension, could still be cut due to a PED-specific contract clause that allows Tampa to back out of the five-year commitment it handed him in 2016.

Should Martin stick in Tampa, a potential running-back-by-committee system could ensue. If Rodgers busts out of the gate and Martin struggles in his return, head coach Dirk Koetter will be in a tough spot. Overall, it projects to be a messy situation for potential fantasy investors.

To recap Rodgers' emergence, he totaled 491 yards with a 4.2 yards per carry over seven games between Weeks 5 and 17. Weeks 13 and 14, however, skew those numbers as Rodgers saw just nine total carries. His game log below displays the RB1 potential he flaunted when given at least 15 carries.

WEEK ATT YARDS TD
5 30 101 0
7 26 154 0
8 16 69 1
16 15 63 1
17 17 75 0

Similar to how DeAngelo Williams was gifted an RB1 role to start the 2016 season with Le'Veon Bell on the sidelines, Rodgers projects to do the same. Those three games of usage and the potential to steal carries throughout the season will make him a tempting gamble in all fantasy leagues.

Consider him a cautious RB3 with RB2 upside if he can usurp the starting job. Targeting him will be a role of the dice in the latter stages of standard fantasy drafts.

What to do with Doug Martin

Martin has been a perplexing and frustrating fantasy option ever since his breakout rookie campaign in 2012. He played just 17 combined games in 2013 and 2014, registering a YPC below 3.8 in both seasons.

A bounce-back 2015 saw Martin register a 4.9 YPC on his way to 1,402 yards in 16 games. Unfortunately, that was followed by last season's career-worst 2.9 YPC and 421 rushing yards in eight games.

Fantasy owners should be paying careful attention to upcoming OTAs in April before making any fantasy judgement regarding Martin. Assigning him an ADP or projected draft round is unwise with his contract situation still up in the air.

(Photos courtesy: Action Images)

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox