Buy or Sell: Doug Martin

Doug Martin
ADP: 82.6
RB: 31

In 2013, Doug Martin burst onto the scene with Tampa Bay, looking like he was going to be the Bucs’ bell cow back well into the future.

Injuries and talent issues have hampered his efforts the last two seasons. But this preseason he has looked rejuvenated. Can the presence of an exciting rookie QB and some talented skill players help Martin reclaim the glory it appeared he was destined to achieve?

Or is the preseason a tease that will quickly turn into regular season disappointment yet again?

Buy: Vomhof

Remember when Doug Martin burst onto the scene as a rookie to single-handedly win fantasy leagues?

Memory a bit foggy? Well, I suppose it has been awhile.

But it’s starting to look like 2015 might just mark the triumphant return of the Muscle Hamster. (Sorry, I know he doesn’t like that nickname.)

Martin appears to have regained his old form this preseason. He’s slimmer and trimmer, and he looks light on his feet.

He had 5 carries for 19 yards in the Bucs’ first preseason game, then busted out for 59 yards on six carries in their next game.

Martin is the lead back in an offense that will force opponents to respect the pass. Top pick Jameis Winston loves to chuck the pigskin downfield, and he has two monster targets in Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson.

Yes, there are plenty of blemishes—Martin he past two seasons have been uninspiring, he’s battled injuries, he’ll lose touches to Charles Sims and the Bucs’ offensive line stinks. But Martin offers plenty of upside where he’s going in the seventh round, behind lower-upside guys like Gio Bernard and Rashad Jennings.

And don’t forget Martin is the same player who produced that magical 2012 season when he had 1,926 total yards and 12 touchdowns. He won’t do that again, but even if he does half of that, you’ll get your money’s worth in your fantasy draft.

Sell: Andy

Few players have gained the fantasy football momentum during the preseason that Muscle Hampster has. His ADP remains around the early ninth round, but that’s gone up a full round in the last week, according to ESPN. You’d be hard-pressed to get him later than the seventh, I would guess, in leagues that are drafting right now.

Let’s put the brakes on for a minute.

This is still a young, bad Bucs team. It’s still a team with a bad offensive line that is young and trying to figure it out on the go.

This is still a Bucs team that has a rookie starting QB and several quality pieces at WR and TE in Mike Evans, Vincent Jackson and Austin Seferian-Jenkins – a team that will throw the ball a lot, especially when behind late in ballgames.

And yes, Martin can catch the ball out of the backfield, but … this is still the same Bucs coaching staff that thought so highly of Martin last season that they tried to replace him with Charles Sims, Bobby Rainey and Mike James. A couple of those guys have still been mentioned in the mix, or at least had been early on in the preseason, and Mike James could emerge with some third-down duties.

I’m not saying you don’t want Martin on your roster. He does have a relatively high ceiling. Just remember when you take him that this is not a settled situation. Muscle Hamster has missed 15 games the last two seasons and has failed to gain 1,000 yards on the ground the past two seasons combined.

Guys like C.J. Spiller and Chris Ivory are being picked a handful of ADP spots above him and Ameer Abdullah is still a couple picks behind him. Just something to consider when you’re pondering that seventh round running back situation.

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