The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in need of change. After an 0-3 start filled with more drama off the field than on it, the team is slowly hitting the panic button. While head coach Greg Schiano continues to stress that Josh Freeman is the "man" in Tampa Bay, that appears to no longer be true. Rookie Mike Glennon will get the Week 4 start and fantasy owners should adjust their rosters accordingly.
While there has yet to be an official announcement from the team, ESPN.com reports the rookie will get the nod against the Arizona Cardinals. Tampa Bay felt this was the right time to make the move since the Buccaneers will have a bye week the following Sunday.
The decision is just another dip in Freeman's roller coaster career with the Buccaneers. Now in a crucial contract season, the quarterback can expect to be either let go at the end of the year, or traded by the Week 8 deadline. The fifth-year starter has completed less than 50 percent of his passes in each of the first three games. With rumored rifts taking place between he and Schiano, the move comes of no surprise.
Glennon was drafted in the third round this past spring out of North Carolina State. He passes for 4,031 yards in 2012 while putting up 31 touchdowns. Facing the strong Cardinals secondary unit, the Buccaneers might be looking to run the ball more so than usual. Insert Doug Martin.
While Martin has yet to be a real fantasy standout, the Cardinals have allowed opponents to rush on them and the running back will be heavily relied on come Sunday. Martin has put up 297 yards so far this season, averaging 4.1 yards per carry. While he is not much of a receiving back, he will get a lot of touches against Arizona.
How does Glennon pan out as a fantasy prospect? Chances are most owners were not invested in Freeman to begin with, so the benching does not hurt that much. Glennon has a strong arm and can toss the accurate deep ball, but outside the pocket, his mobility is poor.
Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams will certainly provide a strong safety net for the rookie, but that might not be enough. Glennon did not overly impress during the preseason, finishing with just 41.7 percent of passes going for completions. Owners should be smart to take the chance on the quarterback, but Martin could be poised for a breakout game.
