Roto Riteup: July 23, 2026
Flow like a harpoon daily and nightly…
Rice, Rice, Baby
On the Agenda:
- Closer Chaos
- Quick Hits
- Various News and Notes
- Streaming Pitchers
Author Archive
Keeper Targets Rebuilding Teams Need to Buy Now
What do we know about value in fantasy baseball? We know a player’s value can rise swiftly based on recent production, or drop drastically due to injury or underperformance. We also know that a player’s fantasy value can be quite subjective. It is in the eye of the beholder and is often bolstered by bias. A lifelong Yankee fan who plays fantasy baseball may overvalue Trent Grisham because he leads off for the Yankees and hits tanks. An embittered Padres fan who overpaid for Grisham in 2022 and 2023 drafts when Grisham hit below the Mendoza Line those two seasons won’t see him in the same light. A player’s true value lies on a spectrum between those extremes. The other, and even more important element, is how a player can specifically help a roto team. Assuming these two managers were friends in the same league, and the Padres fan had a big lead on second place in the BA category, but had standings points to gain in HR, and was offering a fair return, the Padres fan might be able to put his bias aside for the good of his roto squad. If he had a massive lead in HR, but low in BA, the two sides would be even further apart; there wouldn’t be a trade conversation in the first place.
So, what about player values in keeper or dynasty formats or Ottoneu? Keeper leagues are an entirely different animal than redraft because there are so many more layers to the onion. Values are even more subjective and skewed because of the longer-term approach; it’s not just about what a player projects for “ROS”. Every season, some teams are rebuilding while others are contending, so specific player archetypes (ie, injured, declining, blossoming prospect) don’t have the same baseline value across all leagues. Moreover, keeper league managers are what the kids call “extra”, in a good way, of course. Though league titles are won every season, keepers are more of a journey than a destination. It requires attention and commitment throughout the entire calendar year. It’s even more important for keeper league managers to filter out personal bias, since the manager-fantasy player relationships are deeper. There’s a lot more attachment and connection to players, especially those that have been on one’s squad for a long time. Nevertheless, keeper league players are usually very serious, well-informed, and dialed in. The management of one’s portfolio of assets and the potential long-term consequences, for good or for bad, makes it generally more difficult to make deals. But when Manager A is in a clear rebuild mode, and Manager B is going for the title now, deals can align organically.
FAAB Frenzy and Waivers Wild: Week 18
Every Monday, this column will break down the most popular waiver wire and free agent acquisitions of the weekend. I dig into the top adds on the ever-popular Fantrax and in the NFBC Online Championship (OC), a national mid-stakes contest with 240 total leagues of 12 and a six-figure grand prize. Reviewing player adds between the two should provide us with a well-rounded perspective and barometer of the fantasy baseball marketplace.
Roto Riteup: July 17, 2026
A great start for those of us with Aaron Nola in earned runs leagues!
On the Agenda:
- Quick Hits
- Various News and Notes
- Streaming Pitchers
Post All-Star Break Starting Pitchers to Target
Some call it the second half because it’s easier that way, but there is only 40% of the Major League season remaining. Assuming starting pitchers remain healthy and in the rotation, most will start anywhere from 11 to 14 games between now and the end of the season. There is more than enough time to make up some of our pitching category deficiencies in Rotisserie leagues. Let’s dive into some of the starting pitchers who should be helpful in all fantasy formats and help us finish the season strong.
FAAB Frenzy and Waivers Wild: Week 17
Every Monday, this column will break down the most popular waiver wire and free agent acquisitions of the weekend. I dig into the top adds on the ever-popular Fantrax and in the NFBC Online Championship (OC), a national mid-stakes contest with 240 total leagues of 12 and a six-figure grand prize. Reviewing player adds between the two should provide us with a well-rounded perspective and barometer of the fantasy baseball marketplace.
Roto Riteup: July 10, 2026
Did not have Caleb Durbin, Power Monster, on my bingo card.
On the Agenda:
- Closer Chaos
- Quick Hits
- Various News and Notes
- Streaming Pitchers
Roto Riteup: July 9, 2026
Daullton Varsho is incredible!
This one preserved the no-hitter, but then it became a hitter.
On the Agenda:
- Closer Chaos
- Quick Hits
- Various News and Notes
- Streaming Pitchers
Second Half Expectations from First-Round Busts
Every baseball and fantasy season brings wonderful surprises and massive disappointments. Among the top hitters in our Fantasy Player Rater are two Nationals (James Wood, CJ Abrams), post-200 ADP breakouts Otto Lopez and Jordan Walker, and Liam Hicks, a catcher added off FAAB and waivers in April. We know that it takes more than just our first-round selection to win our leagues, and we strive to avoid traps and busts, but it’s impossible to know who those are ahead of time. That’s why we play the game. We can break down first-rounders into three groups: those who return first-round value ($25+), those who don’t return it, but don’t sink our squad ($15-$24), and those who outright destroy us. Over the last decade, only 35-45% annually return first-round value or come close to it. Last season was a positive outlier in this regard. Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani were the top producers ($40+). Juan Soto, José Ramírez, Bobby Witt Jr., Fernando Tatis, and Corbin Carroll easily returned first-round value. Elly De La Cruz was on the bubble ($24.8, 16th hitter per the 12-team Player Rater) and technically counts as a hit. Fernando Tatis Jr. had a Round 2 ADP in 12-team leagues and was a borderline first-rounder in 15s. He, too, earned $24 and change. We also had the unique occurrence of the first three pitchers off the board — Tarik Skubal, Paul Skenes, and Garrett Crochet — all ending the season as the top three fantasy pitchers.
FAAB Frenzy and Waivers Wild: Week 16
Every Monday, this column will break down the most popular waiver wire and free agent acquisitions of the weekend. I dig into the top adds on the ever-popular Fantrax and in the NFBC Online Championship (OC), a national mid-stakes contest with 240 total leagues of 12 and a six-figure grand prize. Reviewing player adds between the two should provide us with a well-rounded perspective and barometer of the fantasy baseball marketplace.