The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will enter the 2015 NFL season with one of the more confusing running back situations in the league. With no clear starter and no indications of how exactly the carries will be split, any Bucs running back is definitely a headache no fantasy owner wants to deal with (not to mention the sketchy offensive line blocking up front).

With five running backs on the roster right now, most likely only four will remain for Week 1. They will probably be the same four from last year: Doug Martin, Charles Sims, Bobby Rainey and Mike James.

Martin is the most well-known out of the group and is listed as the starter right now, but any Bucs fan knows it is not that simple. After his Pro-Bowl rookie season, Martin hasn’t been the same since. His 2013 season was cut short after a shoulder injury, and he only averaged 3.7 yards a carry while appearing in just 11 games last year. The Bucs declined to pick up Martin’s fifth-year option this offseason, so unless he returns to his rookie form this year, he probably won’t be a Buc in 2016.

Second-year GM Jason Licht obviously had concerns about Martin even before last year happened, because he drafted Sims in the third round in 2014. The coaching staff really liked Sims last summer, but he missed the first eight games with an ankle injury. He never started a game once he got on the field and didn’t put up impressive numbers when he got the chance. However, it seems like he still has the green light to lead the Bucs’ running attack if he can take advantage of the situation.

While Martin and Sims will be battling for the starting role, behind them will be Rainey and James. Rainey actually started five games in place of Martin last season and should have the advantage over James if either is called upon. Rainey seems to have a little more explosion than James, even if he is considerably smaller.

Unless Rainey suffers an injury, he has a clear path to be the third back. James may even be in trouble of losing his roster spot to undrafted rookie Dominique Brown. Both will have to impress the coaching staff this training camp.

A solid running game could be critical to Jameis Winston’s success in his first year. Having an effective ground game is a great way to take some pressure off any young quarterback. Martin may end up starting opening day, but I’m sure the Bucs will use the running back by committee approach until Martin or Sims pulls ahead. And I really feel like the coaching staff wants Sims to take hold of starting job, so it is up to him to seize it.

David Rumsey is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Beat Writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter (@David_Bucs) for more Bucs’ news and analysis.