Doug Martin dreams aside, the Bucs have to pick a guy to establish a running game against the bungling Bears on Sunday.

Heaven knows the Bucs can’t seem to win a game if they’re not pounding the rock. Perhaps that has something to do with the receiving corps talent?

Joe wants to see running back Mike James be that guy. He did it in 2013 against the Seahawks and Dolphins. Man, James was a beast hammering the ball 28 times for 158 yards against the eventual Super Bowl champs and their beastly defense.

Why Greg Schiano and Mike Sullivan stopped feeding him the rock with more than seven minutes remaining Joe will never understand.

The Bucs’ sixth-round pick in 2013, James was cut in preseason after injuring his hamstring in a joint practice with the Browns, Dirk Koetter revealed on the Buccaneers Radio Network last night.

James was released with an injury settlement, got healthy, was signed to the Lions practice squad and the Bucs signed him back a week ago.

With running back Antone Smith out for the year with an ankle injury, Koetter said of James, “His reps will go up.”

James has a real shot to revive his career with eight games to play. If he can churn out at least 3.5 yards a carry, stay healthy and block for America’s Quarterback, Jameis Winston, then James certainly will have a job next year.