There’s little question as to which players you want in the first few rounds. After all, nobody is going to pass up Trout, Betts, Altuve, Kershaw, Scherzer, and Bumgarner. The better question is, which players after the first few rounds are guys you should absolutely target for your team?
To help answer that, we asked our featured experts below what hitters and pitchers going outside the top 30 do they absolutely want on their team. See who they picked.
Q1. Who is the one hitter outside the top 30 in hitter ADP you are targeting as a must-have on all your teams?
Jake Lamb (3B – ARI)
“Lamb’s ADP is absurdly low, and I’ll be targeting him heavily in drafts if that figure really reflects how owners feel about him in 2017. Lamb was absolutely wrecking the league before a hand injury torpedoed his season. Even if you don’t buy his first half as sustainable, he could easily replicate his overall line from last season, which was good enough for him to rank as a top-10 third baseman. There’s upside for more beyond that, too, and he’s hitting in the middle of a pretty good lineup. I’m all in on Rake Lamb.”
– Kyle Bishop (RotoBaller)
“I think that Jake Lamb is going to have a breakout season. He is expected to play every day and should hit cleanup in a lineup that is much improved with A.J. Pollock back. He is a safe bet for 25+ HR and he is being drafted in rounds 8-9.”
– Dr. Roto (ScoutFantasy)
Kyle Schwarber (C/LF – CHC)
“Schwarber’s price is ludicrously low entering 2017. We won’t see him outside the top-40 again for years, I’d wager. He’s catcher-eligible in Yahoo leagues and expected to bat lead-off against RHPs. If you can’t see a path to a 90-30-90 season for Schwarber, then you’re doing something wrong.”
– Andy Behrens (Yahoo! Sports)
Marcus Semien (SS – OAK)
“If I told you there was a shortstop that could hit you 25+ home runs and steal 10+ bags at a cheap price, you’d jump on it. Then why is Marcus Semien going outside the top 200? Yes, the average is bad, but considering how unlucky he was on balls in play last year it should raise and the lineup around him should be at worst a bit better. I’ll be grabbing him in every draft this season.”
– Justin Mason (FanGraphs)
Salvador Perez (C – KC)
“Oddly, it is a player that I’m not all that crazy about. The reason I have to have Salvador Perez is because he is the only catcher that I believe isn’t being over-drafted. He is currently being drafted #136 on average which is a full 30 spots lower than Willson Contreras, who might not even see 400 at-bats. Perez has become the most consistent catcher in baseball and has a career .272 BA with 21 HR, 81 RBI and 64 R per 162 games. Those numbers match up well against Buster Posey’s 2016 season, who is being selected a full 100 picks higher.”
– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)
Q2. Who is the one starting pitcher outside the top 30 in pitcher ADP you are targeting as a must-have on all your teams?
Joe Ross (SP – WAS)
“If Ross gives us a healthy season, he’s going to be a filthy steal at his current draft price. He shouldn’t lack for run support in Washington. Ross enters his age-24 season with career rates that should make him a player of interest: 3.46 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 8.0 K/9. If he simply matches those numbers over a full season, you’ll profit. And if he actually improves in the year ahead, you hit the fantasy jackpot.”
– Andy Behrens (Yahoo! Sports)
Aaron Nola (SP – PHI)
“Nola was in the midst of a breakout before arm issues (and a comically low strand rate) warped his ratios and ultimately ended his season. He added several points to his K% and allowed fewer home runs than his rookie year, and his ERA estimators were sparkling. He’s under no restrictions in spring training and has looked healthy so far. What we have here with Nola is an opportunity to buy a breakout at a bargain rate, after it’s already happened. Sign me up.”
– Kyle Bishop (RotoBaller)
James Paxton (SP – SEA)
“From August 1st on, James Paxton had a 3.23 ERA and an even better FIP and xFIP. His walk rate and home run rate were fantastic as well. Through this time, he showed improved command and increased velocity. 97 mph from the left-hand side is deadly. Injury is always a concern with Paxton, but considering he is going outside the top 45 starting pitchers, he is worth the gamble.”
– Justin Mason (FanGraphs)
Aaron Sanchez (SP – TOR)
“Sanchez is going as the 39th pitcher in ADP right now, but I think he could end the year in the top 20. He is a young fireballer who should take the next step up in 2017. Look for 200 IP and 200Ks from him this year.”
– Dr. Roto (ScoutFantasy)
Lance McCullers (SP – HOU)
“It is difficult to pick just one because both Rich Hill and Lance McCullers are among the top pitchers in baseball when they are healthy, but are somehow being drafted outside of the top 100 picks. Of the two, McCullers stands out most, however, because his ADP is 40 spots lower, he has a lower injury risk, and a higher ceiling. His career ratios are extremely similar to Stephen Strasburg’s who as you know, also has injury concerns. Perhaps the most intriguing thing is that McCullers is still just 23 years old, so there may be another big leap in production this season.”
– Bobby Sylvester (FantasyPros)
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Thank you to the experts for naming their must-have players. Please give them a follow on Twitter for more fantasy baseball advice. Also, be sure to subscribe and listen to our latest podcasts below.
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