Doug Martin Is a Better Option Than Richardson in All Fantasy Leagues

Regardless of whether you are competing in a traditional league, keeper league, snake draft or auction draft, Doug Martin is a better pick than Trent Richardson.

Let me first say, I do not believe Martin is the better player by any stretch of the imagination. There are circumstances, however, that have me leaning more toward Martin as a reliable fantasy option.

First and foremost, Martin is in a better situation in Tampa Bay. He will be an integral part of the offense, but unlike Richardson, he won't be the entire offense. As such, opposing defenses are not going to simply key on him to shut down the Buccaneers.

Regardless of whether he splits time with LeGarrette Blount, Martin is still going to get plenty of snaps and touches.

Richardson will get his carries as well, but like I said, Cleveland, being one of the NFL's worst teams, doesn't have much else for opposing teams to worry about. The entire game plan will be to stack the box and make the Browns pass the ball.

Another factor is going to be price. In auction drafts, you should be able to land Martin for much less than people will pay for Richardson. Depending on how serious your league is, there is a fair chance that 25 percent of its owners didn't know much about Martin before buying their first draft guide at the newsstand a week earlier. They'll waste valuable dollars on Richardson, and you'll sit back and land Martin at a bargain price.

If you are in a keeper league, be mindful of the running styles of each back. Richardson, though powerful and explosive, is a violent runner who doesn't shy away from contact. This may net him some extra yards earlier on, but it will make him much more susceptible to injury.

On the other hand, Martin is a smooth runner with exceptional vision who always runs to daylight. He doesn't put much stress on his body when carrying the ball, and is rarely touched even when running between the tackles. This tells me Martin may have a longer, healthier career going forward.