If it could go wrong for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' backfield this year, it probably did. Both Doug Martin and Charles Sims battled long-term injuries, and they struggled with their effectiveness when they were healthy.
Then there's Jacquizz Rodgers. He's a whole different story.
In order to illustrate this, let's just show you their efficiency numbers all in one table. For reference, the league-average Rushing NEP per carry for running backs is -0.01 with a Success Rate of 40.50%.
| Running Back | Carries | Rushing NEP | Rushing NEP per Carry | Success Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doug Martin | 144 | -28.49 | -0.20 | 34.72% |
| Jacquizz Rodgers | 129 | 4.98 | 0.04 | 46.51% |
| Charles Sims | 51 | -0.30 | -0.01 | 27.45% |
Overall, Rodgers was fine this year, finishing 15th in Rushing NEP per carry and eighth in Success Rate. But when you put him up against his own teammates, he looks like a gosh-darn saint.
This is important for fantasy because Rodgers is the only one of the three not signed for 2017. He could wind up hitting the free-agent market with his age-27 season just around the corner. If he can land a decent opportunity, this could be a guy to watch in 2017.
As for the Buccaneers, there's not a lot of clarity there. They can now cut Martin without penalty due to his performance-enhancing drug suspension, which would be an unfortunate outcome with Martin seeking treatment in a rehabilitation facility.
If the team brings Rodgers back, there's a chance he could be the lead dog in Tampa Bay. If not, there will be plenty of questions around this team, and it may be a while before we get any sort of clarity.