- Name: Doug Martin
- Height: 5’9
- Weight: 210
- School: Boise State
- Year: Senior
- Draft Projection: 2nd Round
The running back class is becoming deeper by the day, and a large part of that is due to Doug Martin’s emergence as a potential first round pick. Martin, despite playing at arguably the best non-BCS program in the country, has been a bit overlooked due to the fact that Boise State is only the national stage a couple of times per season. But the more people see, the more people like. Martin runs as though he is mad at the grass, hitting the seam with authority and manhandling tacklers who attempt to take him out high. Superior lower leg strength and balance help him earn every yard he gets and make him the type of stocky runner that succeed at the next level. Martin’s game is simply but incredibly effective. He’s smooth in all facets of the game and has surprising quickness for a power runner.
Like with all skill players who are limited physically, you have to question his upside. He’s not going to break free for many long runs and in a league where everyone is fast and strong, his lack of elite burst may cost him opportunities to hit the second level. Still, he’s the prototypical three down back who can contribute in all phases of the game and by all accounts is a hard worker and a top notch teammate. He’s making a push to be the second runner off the board and has the experience to make an impact from day one.
Fantasy Outlook: Depending on draft pedigree and situation, Martin could make a push to be a top five rookie pick. He is one of the runners most likely to make an immediate impact and assuming he can round out his receiving skills, he could be one of the rare runners who seldom leaves the field. If he finds his way into the back of round one or early round two, he could conceivably be the number four rookie pick behindRichardson, Luck, and Blackmon. He is a solid addition to any fantasy backfield and has flex potential as a rookie.
