DFS: Breaking Down the Week 2 Running Back Platoons

With Week 1 in the rear-view, we can break down some of fantasy point-splitting running back platoons and predict what their outlook is in Week 2.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

DFS and full-season players alike came into Week 1 with high hopes for incumbent starter Doug Martin. Injuries have robbed Martin of a true chance of repeating his incredible 2012 rookie season when he totaled 1,926 yards from scrimmage - including 49 receptions - and tallied 12 touchdowns.

That kind of production would have made Martin one of the most expensive options in Week 1, with the Buccaneers and rookie quarterback Jameis Winston taking on the Titans. Having come off two straight injury-plagued seasons, Martin put his career back on track.

Martin had a respectable 4.7 yards per carry but was given just 11 attempts. Back-up RB Charles Sims only managed five carries himself but was targeted five times by Winston and was generally featured more in the Bucs' passing game.

At New Orleans in Week 2, the Bucs will likely lean on their running game. That worked for the Cardinals against the Saints in Week 1, where Andre Ellington averaged 5.8 yards per carry. Sims offers some different looks as a receiver out of the backfield but what Winston needs right now is the stability that 15 to 20 carries from a grinder like Martin can bring. Martin could end up as one of the better performers in Week 2.

Cleveland Browns

After an uneven rookie season, Isaiah Crowell was feeling the heat when the Browns selected RB Duke Johnson in the third round of the NFL Draft. Despite a bevy of preseason injuries, Johnson still managed to feature on 44% of the offenses' plays against the Jets. Neither inspired much excitement, as they combined for a brutal 42 yards on 19 carries, though Johnson was slightly more efficient with 3.1 yards per carry.

The Jets' defense is well respected around the league and a good day on the ground wasn't in the forecast. Things shouldn't be that much easier versus Tennessee, which bullied an equally bad Tampa Bay offense in Week 1. If Titans QB Marcus Mariota can defy the odds and build another first-half lead against the Browns, it will mean less touches for both Crowell and Johnson. Neither should be in many lineups this week, save for deep GPP tournaments.

San Diego Chargers

Avoid the knee-jerk reaction after the Chargers' Week 1 loss to Detroit: 15th overall pick Melvin Gordon is not a bust. Gordon and Danny Woodhead weren't terribly effective against a weak Lions' defense; neither cracked four yards per carry. It's surprising that Woodhead received multiple red-zone attempts, but his two TDs seem more like an outlier than a sign of things to come.

The reality of the situation is that the Chargers have invested in Gordon as their RB of the future; Woodhead is 30 years old and Father Time remains an undefeated combatant. Gordon will get up to speed and should get more shots at the end zone against the Bengals now that his feet are wet.