Bucs RB Doug Martin (hamstring) did not practice on Wednesday. He was expected back for Week 7, but that doesn't look like a lock at this point. We'll see if he can get back on the practice field tomorrow. RB Jacquizz Rodgers would get another start in a prime spot vs. the 49ers if Martin can't play on Sunday.

The Bucs have placed RB Charles Sims (knee) on IR. Still no word on the exact nature of his knee injury, but he's now out for at least the next 8 weeks. He can be dropped in redraft leagues. Tampa will roll with RB Jacquizz Rodgers as the starter tonight vs. Carolina. RB Doug Martin is expected back after the Week 6 bye.

ESPN's Adam Schefter confirms that RBs Charles Sims (knee) and Doug Martin (hamstring) will not play against the Panthers tonight. Both guys were listed as doubtful. That leaves RB Jacquizz Rodgers as Tampa Bay's lead back. The 5'6, 205-pounder has tended to struggle with big workloads. Look for a pass-heavy attack from the Bucs in this one.

The Bucs have officially listed RB Charles Sims (knee) as doubtful for Monday night's game at Carolina. Sims had labeled himself a game-time decision, but even that sounds optimistic now. RB Doug Martin is also doubtful with the hamstring injury that cost him the past 2 games. That leaves Jacquizz Rodgers in line to start ... and us hoping you have a better option

Bucs RB Doug Martin (hamstring) is out for Sunday’s game against the Broncos. He’s likely out through the team’s Week 6 bye. RB Charles Sims gets another start after racking up 13 carries and 6 catches last week. Volume makes him a fine RB2, despite the tough matchup.

Bucs RB Doug Martin is expected to miss "about 3 weeks" with his hamstring injury, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Tampa has a well-timed Week 6 bye, so Martin should be ready for Week 7. He's worth stashing in all fantasy leagues. Charles Sims will take over as the lead back in the meantime. But HC Dirk Koetter has hinted that Sims might not be a workhorse. "He’s a little bit different style of runner," Koetter said. "He’s not going to break as many tackles as Doug is, but he’s a little more elusive on the outside, a little better in the screen game." Look for RB Jacquizz Rodgers to mix in for at least a handful of carries per game. The Bucs also have a brutal upcoming schedule: Rams, Broncos, Panthers. It all makes Sims more RB2 than RB1 while Martin is out.

Bucs RB Doug Martin injured his hamstring in the 1st half of Sunday's game against the Cardinals. He's been labeled doubtful to return, rather than the usual "questionable." Don't bank on seeing Martin back out there, leaving Charles Sims as Tampa's feature back.

Bucs RB Doug Martin focused on ball security over the offseason. The 27-year-old fumbled 5 times in 2015 after posting only 2 over his first 3 seasons. "I watched all those fumbles after last season," Martin said. "It was more of me fighting for extra yards, not having my other arm on the ball, other hand on the ball. That will all be corrected. I don't look to be fumbling that much this year." Tampa Bay has a talented #2 option in Charles Sims, but we're not holding the fumbles against Martin. He'll remain busy after earning a pricey new 5-year deal in March.

Bucs HC Dirk Koetter says the team's backfield this season will be "similar to how it was" in 2015.  Doug Martin out-carried Charles Sims 288 to 107 last year, while Sims led the way in targets 70 to 44.  Only 1 RB tallied more carries than Martin, and only 6 had more targets than Sims.  Martin will be hard-pressed to match last year's 4.9 yards per carry but could easily score more than 6 times.  He's a good bet for RB1 production again in 2016.  Sims' role makes him best-suited as a RB3.

The Bucs and RB Doug Martin have agreed to a contract, according to The Tampa Tribune's Roy Cummings.  The deal took longer than expected to materialize, but staying in Tampa was always the most likely result for Martin.  After injury-plagued 2013 and 2014 seasons, he put together a big 1,402-yard 2015 campaign.  Martin's 4.9 yards per carry led all 30 backs who carried 150+ times.  And despite getting a bit unlucky to score just 7 times, he finished as a top 4 RB across fantasy formats.  Martin will continue to lose some passing-down work to RB Charles Sims but will remain the Bucs' clear lead ball-carrier going forward.

Update: NFL Network's Ian Rapoport hears that Martin's deal is for 5 years and $35.75 million.  

The Bucs don't view RB Charles Sims as a potential replacement for impending free agent Doug Martin, according to Pewter Report's Scott Reynolds.  Tampa sees Sims "best as a change-of-pace back and an outlet receiver in the passing game rather than a workhorse back like Martin is," Reynolds writes.  Sims quietly racked up 1,090 total yards this past season, but he reached double-digit carries just 3 times and never topped 12.  His season-high in carries in 4 college seasons was just 208.  Sims' role would certainly grow if Martin bolts in free agency, but it doesn't sound like he'd get anywhere close to the 288 carries Martin did in 2015.

RB Doug Martin is planning to test the free-agent market in March.  He's had some contract talks with the Bucs, but the 2 sides "aren't really that close" to an agreement, according to insider Rick Stroud.  Martin is coming off a big 1,400-yard season and is still in his prime at 27 years old.  Leaving Tampa Bay would probably boost his fantasy stock.  He'd likely have a bigger opportunity in the passing game after totaling just 33 catches on 44 targets in 2015.  Martin hauled in 49 balls as a rookie back in 2012 and is averaging 8.2 yards per catch for his career.

The Bucs are set to name Dirk Koetter their new HC, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.  Koetter has spent the past 9 seasons as an OC -- 5 in Jacksonville, 3 in Atlanta and this past year in Tampa Bay.  His Bucs offense finished 5th in total yards, 17th in passing and 5th in rushing.  The continuity in system is good news for youngsters Jameis Winston and Mike Evans.  Koetter is also a big fan of impending free agent Doug Martin.

Bucs RB Doug Martin (knee) is active for today’s game against the Panthers. He injured his knee in Thursday’s practice but was able to return to a limited workout on Friday. At less than 100%, he’s just a RB3 or flex. We might see more of RB Charles Sims, but he'd be tough to trust in fantasy lineups.

Bucs RB Doug Martin (knee) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Panthers. He injured his knee in Thursday’s practice but was able to return to a limited workout on Friday. He said afterward that the injury is “only a nick” and that’ll he’ll be “perfect” come Sunday. Martin hasn’t been effective when healthy this season, averaging only 3.8 yards per carry. At less than 100%, he’s just a RB3 or flex in fantasy lineups.  Martin's injury could mean more work for RB Charles Sims, but he'd be tough to trust.

Bucs RB Doug Martin injured his knee on Wednesday and didn't practice Thursday.  "Hit his knee," HC Lovie Smith said.  "Should be ok."  We'll see if Martin is able to return for Friday's workout, but it's a situation to track closely.  Charles Sims would serve as Tampa's lead back if Martin can't play against the Panthers.

Buccaneers HC Lovie Smith might have officially named RB Doug Martin the starter on Monday. "We talked about being able to establish the run. Doug will be the lead guy doing that, so it's very important that we open up some holes and let him do his thing," Smith said via the Tampa Bay Times. That follows the storylines from Bucs workouts to this point. Ever since the NFL Draft passed without a Martin trade, the veteran has found himself in a steady stream of positive reports. We'll see if this latest word pushes Martin up fantasy football draft boards, but he's a nice value at his early Round 7 ADP right now.

Bucs RB Doug Martin is currently tipping the scales at 210 pounds, down from 225, according to Pewter Report's Scott Smith.  We love hearing about RBs dropping weight because it tends to improve their speed and quickness.  “Doug looks like his old self,” Bucs DT Akeem Spence said. “He’s making all the cuts. He’s explosive and fast coming out of the backfield now, and he’s catching the ball real well. He did a good job this offseason of getting back to his old self. I think he’s going to have a big year.”  The buzz on Martin has been positive all offseason.  Still only 26, there's plenty of bounce-back appeal here.  Martin is well worth a shot at his 8th-round price tag.

Bucs RB Doug Martin has been working with the starters in practice this spring.  “He’s on the first team like he has always been,” HC Lovie Smith said. “He’s one of our guys, he’s our running back. He’s showing up and he is getting good work. I think it is just as simple as that.”  It sounds like it's Martin's job to lose, but he'll need to be better than he's been recently.  Since a 1,454-yard 2012 rookie campaign, he's totaled just 950 yards on a 3.6 per-carry average in 17 games over the past 2 seasons.  Behind a shaky offensive line and with Charles Sims and Bobby Rainey threatening to steal touches, Martin shouldn't be counted on as a starter in fantasy drafts this summer.