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Buy or Sell: 7 Hyped-Up Players

Buy or Sell: 7 Hyped-Up Players
Doug Martin's preseason is turning heads, but you can't forget 2013 and 2014

Doug Martin’s preseason is turning heads, but you can’t forget 2013 and 2014

Each year’s preseason brings players to the forefront of your attention whether you like the guy or not. Sometimes the hype is legit and other times, well, they are who we thought they were… (thanks Dennis Green).

With all the hype in preseason, things can become a little cloudy for fantasy owners. To help clear the picture, we asked our featured experts to provide some insight into who they’re buying the hype on. Conversely, they’re also answering the question of who is putting together a stellar preseason that will fail to deliver when the real games begin.

Q1. Who is one player performing well in the preseason that has you buying the hype? How early would you target him in drafts?

Amari Cooper (WR – OAK)
“I’m all in on Amari Cooper. Everything we’ve seen in exhibition play matches what we’ve heard leading up to it. I have no problem rolling with Cooper as my WR2 in PPR leagues — even if it means drafting him as a top-20 wideout.”
Bob Harris (Football Diehards)

Chris Ivory (RB – NYJ)
“Chris Ivory is my guy and he narrowly edged out Doug Martin. Martin has looked fantastic, but I simply don’t trust their O-Line. In Ivory’s last preseason game he had 38 yards on 6 carries. He will be the horse, is looking great and still affordable. Round 4 to 5 is reasonable for Ivory. A great RB2 option.”
Chris Meyers (SoCalledFanEx)

Ronnie Hillman (RB – DEN)
“I’m not going crazy with Hillman, but I do have him currently as my RB43, making him draftable in almost all leagues, perhaps somewhere around the 11th-12th round, and perhaps worth a reach by C.J. Anderson owners in the 10th. That’s all a darn sight better than where Hillman was just a couple of weeks ago, when he was my RBGodKnowsWhat. But he has soared past bust-y Montee Ball, averaging an eye-popping 7.4 yards on 21 carries, and we’ve seen him play well before when the games matter.”
Des Bieler (The Washington Post)

Steve Smith Sr. (WR – BAL)/Martavis Bryant (WR – PIT)
“I have two picks that are equally attractive. Steve Smith Sr., who has an 8th-round ADP right now, and the other is Martavis Bryant, who has 7th-round value right now. Smith looks just as quick as last year and could dance with all fantasy WR2s all year long. He is a secret weapon of a fantasy WR3 this year! And, if he doesn’t perform, the risk/cost was minimal. Same thing goes for Bryant, who could play like a high-end fantasy WR2 upon his return. Bryant is so explosive, so despite his 4-game suspension, draft the guy!”
Smitty (Fantasy Football Starters)

Q2. On the flip side, what player having preseason success will fail to deliver for fantasy owners?

Doug Martin (RB – TB)
“The Buccaneers back has ripped off several impressive runs, which could lead to fantasy owners feeling ripped off when he doesn’t materialize as the solid RB2 they were expecting. His performances have many flashing back to 2012, when Muscle Hamster was amazing, but 2013 and 2014, when he was awful, also happened, so his real ability may lie somewhere in the middle. In addition, Charles Sims and Bobby Rainey are around to make this something of a committee, and the Bucs’ offensive line projects to be among the NFL’s worst.”
Des Bieler (The Washington Post)

“I think I’d be cautious about Doug Martin. Do I predict that he busts? No. I repeat, I am not predicting bust; however, with a 4.01 ADP right now, one that might climb into the 3rd-round, I’d let someone else take the risk that he rebounds to form in 2015. He is worth owning if the price is right, though, as he does look good this preseason, but once ADPs climb too high, the upside, at least huge upside, goes out the window.”
Smitty (Fantasy Football Starters)

“Doug Martin has been looking great this preseason and I truly believe in his talent and abilities to have a great fantasy season in 2015. However, that offensive line, as mentioned before really concerns me, and with a defense with plenty of holes as well, Tampa may very well be throwing plenty and playing from behind frequently. I am fine with Doug Martin as a RB3 or flex option, but would be hesitant using him as anything more than that. I am drafting, but not with confidence.”
Chris Meyers (SoCalledFanEx)

Ameer Abdullah (RB – DET)
“I don’t doubt his own DC Teryl Austin’s claim that Ameer Abdullah has been nearly impossible to tackle in practices. Nor do I question Jets HC Todd Bowles’ comparisons to Barry Sanders (okay, maybe I do). But drafting the rookie at his current FantasyPros Consensus (RB23) is too rich for my blood. Joique Bell agrees with my assessment (and if he’s healthy, he’ll be a big reason Abdullah falls short of expectations).”
Bob Harris (Football Diehards)

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Thank you to the experts for their picks. Be sure to follow them on Twitter for more advice.

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