The catcher position is generally perceived as one of the weakest positions in fantasy baseball. If you missed out on the elite catching prospects in your draft (Joe Mauer, Brian McCann, etc), you more than likely waited to find bargains at the catcher position. Thankfully, some catchers have gotten out to hot starts this season, making your life easier if you are playing the waiver wire. Ryan Hanigan and Alex Avila fit the mold perfectly, as both have low ownership rates despite their strong starts. It’s only been one week, but let’s take a look at how these players should perform going forward.
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Now that the fantasy baseball season has finally arrived, it’s time to start looking at some players that may have been overlooked in drafts. While the season is less than a week old, and there aren’t any performances we can fully trust, it’s risky to fully commit to these types of players. That said, Julio Borbon and Chris Tillman are two players that aren’t owned in many leagues that could provide significant value going forward.
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Punting saves is one of the most popular strategies promoted by some of the most read fantasy analysts in the business. Don’t feel comfortable completely ignoring the category? That’s ok, you can always pick up saves late in a draft or play the waiver wire. There’s so much turnover at the position that you are bound to find someone solid. At least, that’s what the analysts will tell you. The strategy has been driven into our heads so many times now, however, that there may actually be value in targeting closers relatively early in drafts.
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When attempting to identify an undervalued fantasy asset, some owners will look at first and second half splits. If a specific player really excelled in the second half of the season, that player is often viewed as a player on the rise. Edwin Jackson and Brian Matusz are two players that fall into that category this season. Despite their strong finishes, both players still enter 2011 with question marks. In the RotoGraphs Player Rankings, Jackson and Matusz ranked right next to each other in the Red Hot Chili Peppers tier (the fourth tier). While I could sit here and debate Mike Podhorzer’s taste in music, it would probably be more helpful to you, the reader, if I took a look at how Jackson and Matusz will perform this season, and whether they will build on their strong second halves.
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There’s a lot of pressure that comes with being a top prospect. For every prospect that makes an immediate impact on his team, there are a number of others that struggle for years before finally fulfilling their projections. Owners that remain patient with players in the latter group can pick up premium talent in the last rounds of a draft. Jose Tabata and Dexter Fowler are two players that fit that category this season. While both have shown some ability in the majors, both have a legitimate chance to establish themselves as solid fantasy options this season. What should owners expect from these potential breakout players?
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In his first full season in the majors, Neftali Feliz absolutely lived up to the hype. After taking over the closer role, Feliz used his high-velocity fastball and knee-buckling breaking ball to baffle hitters while also breaking the rookie saves record. Despite that success, there is still some debate over whether Feliz would be better utilized in the rotation. The Texas Rangers seem more than willing to give Feliz a shot at starting again, allowing him to stretch his arm out this Spring. If Feliz can crack the rotation, however, fantasy owners will be salivating over whatever pitcher is announced as the new closer. Let’s take a look at some of the candidates.
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As the 2011 Player Rankings outlined, there are a lot of risks at second base this season. Much of these risks are injury related, as Chase Utley, Dustin Pedroia and Ian Kinsler all missed significant time last season. Rickie Weeks finally broke out, but it would be foolish to forget about his past injury concerns. Should you find yourself waiting on a second baseman, here are some $1 options that may provide some value.
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