The Oakland Raiders have rebuilt their running back corps in just one offseason. Gone is Marshawn Lynch and in is rookie Josh Jacobs. While Jacobs will likely be the team’s starter at some point in the season, don’t count out veteran Doug Marin having a prominent role early in the season.
In a recent piece by Barry Werner of the Touchdown Wire, he ranked the best 32 running backs in the NFL by each team. For the Raiders, Martin was listed as their best player and likely Week 1 starter ahead of Jacobs. Take a look at Werner’s thoughts on the former Boise State running back:
The Raiders used a first-round pick on Josh Jacobs out of Alabama. While his potential seems high, he only rushed for 1,491 yards in the carousel backfield Nick Saban runs with the Tide. In the short term, Doug Martin gets the nod as the No. 1 back in the short run. He’s 30, though, and most running backs have seen their better days by that age.
Martin was surprisingly useful for the Raiders last season, averaging 4.2 yards per carry. By season’s end, he racked up 839 total yards and four touchdowns in just nine starts. All in all, not a bad season for the 29-year old running back.
While Martin’s best football is probably behind him, he is still a capable back. He and Jalen Richard are the perfect complements to Josh Jacobs and should help aid him in reserve roles in 2019. Look for Martin to continue to be effective in a smaller role for the Raiders.
