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10-Team Standard 5×5 Mock Draft (Fantasy Baseball)

10-Team Standard 5×5 Mock Draft (Fantasy Baseball)

Mock drafts are my favorite part of the draft prep process. I find it helpful to read through some of our mocks and go through several mocks of my own to find the strategy that works best for me.

Got about 15 minutes free? That’s all you need to complete a mock draft with the draft simulator here at FantasyPros. So why not do one, or two, or 20?

Here I used our Mock Draft Simulator to run a 10-team standard 5×5 format mock draft (R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG, W, SV, K, ERA, WHIP). This league includes one catcher, an MI and CI spot, 3 OFs, 2 RP, 6 SP, and a UT spot along with the traditional positions.

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The Gameplan

Once I get a feel for the market value of most players, I like to try new strategies in mocks. I have been drafting an ace in the third round and rolling the dice on my #2 pitcher later in the draft. Coming into this mock, I wanted to make sure that I get two of those top 10 pitchers on my board while still getting the first round stud hitter.

I’m drafting in the #5 spot, which might be preferential to drafting on either turn in that you don’t have to plan for up to 18 picks in between draft slots. I want to get a closer in the top 10 rounds and then find two more based on value as the draft unfolds. I try to stay balanced in my approach to all categories in a roto league.

I usually target hitters with high averages that can contribute something in each category. Of course, using this approach means that I have to chase some of those power specialists. These guys are usually had at a slight discount in this kind of league.

Rounds 1 and 2: The Franchise Picks

Round 1, Pick 5: Trea Turner (SS – WAS)
There are a ton of guys that could be worthy of a first-round pick this year, and at pick 5, you miss most of the no doubters and have to be one of the first to make that difficult decision. Charlie Blackmon contributes across the board, Stanton has the huge power, and Harper has tremendous upside. I went with Trea Turner because of his ability to fill just about every category well at a position that is still top heavy in production.

He’ll keep me in the running for stolen bases while providing that high average and even a little bit of power. I don’t think you can mess the #5 overall pick up this year; there are so many deserving candidates.

Round 2, Pick 15: Kris Bryant (3B/OF – CHC)
It speaks to the depth of a 10-team league when a player like Bryant is available in the 2nd round. He contributes more than 30 homers, steals some bases, and is also going to have that high average.

He’s still only 26 years old and is arguably a safer pick than Turner in the first. Votto and Machado were still on the board, but I prefer Bryant.

Rounds 3 and 4: Here Come the Aces

Round 3, Pick 25: Noah Syndergaard (SP – NYM)
Thor was the fifth pitcher off the board, but I have no problem with him as my ace. Honestly, I wasn’t sure that he would make it to me here. The injury risk looms, but it also does for any starting pitcher.

Round 4, Pick 35: Jacob deGrom (SP – NYM)
DeGrom was an easy pick for me here because I had him at #7 in my rankings and he ended up being the 10th pitcher off the board. I’m doubling down on the New York Mets pitching staff, which is scary in its own right, but I trust both of these studs to lead my staff. There aren’t many pitchers capable of pitching over 200 innings anymore, so I was pleased to get two of my top 10 pitchers.

Rounds 5-9: The Foundation

Round 5, Pick 45: Andrew Benintendi (OF – BOS)
Some of the top players available here were Marcell Ozuna and Christian Yelich. I have to admit that I’m ending up with Christian Yelich in most of my drafts, but looking at the profile of Benintendi I just had to pull the trigger.

He went 20-20 at 22 years old, and the ceiling may be for even more. He’s another guy that would help any roto team fill the stat sheet.

Round 6, Pick 55: Anthony Rendon (3B – WSH)
It’s not a sexy pick, but Rendon is as reliable as it gets. Projections show for a slight regression from the .301 average, but he has been consistent for the last two seasons.

He’ll probably hit behind Bryce Harper and will have every opportunity to put that RBI total back to 2017 level. This area of the draft is thin at position players, so this could be a great fallback area to draft my #2 starting pitcher if I decide to wait in the future.

Round 7, Pick 65: Tommy Pham (OF – STL)
I wasn’t thrilled with my sixth-round pick, but I like getting Pham in the seventh round. His ADP is currently at 63, but he could easily outperform this draft position. I don’t know that I expect last year’s slash line of 23/25/.306, but the batted ball profile shows a quality foundation.

His line drive percentage and his HR/FB rates are not much different than the rest of his career. His BABIP was .368 and won’t be repeatable, but he could still put up a high average with his underlying skills. 2017 might have been a career year, but I’m willing to bet on the 29-year-old.

Round 8, Pick 75: Khris Davis (OF/DH – OAK)
I’ve drafted several roto specials: guys that hit for a little bit of power, run a little bit, and have high averages. Obviously in today’s hitter environment, if you don’t draft some power specialists, there are going to be deficiencies.

He’s hit over 40 homers and 100 RBIs the last two years, and I can stand the hit in average with some of the other players I’ve drafted to this point. His ADP is currently 69, so it is about half a round below market value.

Round 9, Pick 85: Roberto Osuna (RP – TOR)
Closer is easily the hardest position to value, so any choice outside of the top few options probably has a floor of losing their role and being worth next to nothing in fantasy.

Osuna is consistently going as the fifth closer and has a long track record of success in the role. His K/9 of over 11 and low walk rate limit the blown saves and make him a worthy investment at this point as my number one closer.

Rounds 10 and 11: What do you say to taking chances?

Round 10, Pick 95: Rougned Odor (2B – TEX)
After a player hits .204, most fantasy players are going to write them off. I understand if you’re there with Odor. The 24-year-old had a ridiculously low .224 BABIP which is due for some positive regression.

Even last year, he had an ISO near .200 and still put up the counting stats with 30 homers and 15 stolen bases. I’ll take a chance on a big bounce-back year for Odor.

Round 11, Pick 105: Miguel Sano (1B/3B/DH – MIN)
I haven’t downgraded Sano as much as some of my peers and at this point; there’s just not much left at first base. I would have loved to taken Matt Olson, but he was nabbed at pick 96. Looking back on it, I probably should have reached a little and went ahead and got my guy.

Sano is similar and has more of a track record. He’s another power specialist, but it is big power.

Before the shin surgery derailed his season, he had a .243 ISO. He has the upside for 40 homers, but is 2018 the year it all comes together?

Rounds 12 and 13: Old Reliable

Round 12, Pick 115: Cody Allen (RP – CLE)
Ideally, I would like to have two closers that I feel confident about going into the season. This was a nice place to snag Allen.

There’s no reason to downgrade him because of the presence of Andrew Miller. If they were going to replace him, they would have done it by now. Cody Allen is solid in his own right and is a closer for a quality team.

Round 13, Pick 125: Jeff Samardzija (SP – SF)
I like Samardzija this year, and I haven’t been landing him too often in many of these mocks. Round 13 is an excellent value for one of the last true workhorses. His projections show for a significant rebound in ERA as his 2017 FIP of 3.61 was much lower than his 4.42 ERA.

He had some bad luck and gave up too many homers. This could be a real steal. Another one of my favorites, Luis Castillo, went two picks later. He is a potential ace this year.

Rounds 14-21: Shooting for Upside

Round 14, Pick 135: Zack Godley (SP – ARI)
Godley was very good last year with a 9.58 K/9 and a 55% ground ball rate. He’s got an impressive set of pitches including three that have plus pitch values including a dominant curveball. Missing out on Castillo turns out fine because Godley might even be a better candidate to be an ace this year.

This is not to mention the humidor bump that many of the Diamondback pitchers are seeing in their value. I would take Godley at this point every time, but his stock is only going to rise from here.

Round 15, Pick 145: Evan Gattis (C/DH – HOU)
Gattis is one of my favorite breakout candidates this year with the positive report that he won’t be playing catcher and will likely be the DH on most days. Even if he gets 400 at-bats, he is going to have value.

The question is if he could get more. If he lands somewhere in the 450-500 at-bat range, this is a potential top-three option at the position.

He’s the sixth catcher off the board, and I’m not a fan of the options after him. The next catcher, Yadier Molina, wasn’t taken until 25 picks later, so I may have been able to get him later. I’d much rather reach for Gattis and his upside than take the ceiling on Molina.

Round 16, Pick 155: Adam Eaton (CF – WSH)
This was a relatively easy pick with what was available at this point in the draft. Health is a concern, but every player at this point has some warts. This is a definite upside pick where the unknown only lies in health.

He has potential to contribute across the board and hit leadoff in an excellent lineup in Washington. He is being undervalued right now. I like upside later in the draft, and Eaton has already performed at a high level for several seasons.

Round 17, Pick 165: Taijuan Walker (SP – ARI)
I wanted Garrett Richards, but he was sniped right before my pick at 164. I understand the concerns with Walker’s high FIP, but there is also a chance that he just outperforms his metrics like a Johnny Cueto. I’m still buying the 25-year-old.

He has a high ceiling and a low floor, so there is some risk here. Blake Snell, Dylan Bundy, and Kevin Gausman all went within the next round, and they all have that same profile.

Round 18, Pick 175: Jeurys Familia (RP – NYM)
A high priority for me was getting a quality third closer. His high walk rate and job stability could be shaky, but the upside is also there for 40 saves.

Round 19, Pick 185: Jonathan Villar (2B/CF – MIL)
I rolled the dice here with a bounce-back candidate. Just a year ago, Villar was an elite option. 2017 was a disaster, but the ceiling is so high that I’m fine taking him this late. The counting stats are there across the board, and if he could get that average to about .250, he will provide more than enough value to justify the pick.

Round 20, Pick 195: Yulieski Gurriel (1B – HOU)
Batting average play for sure, but that has value in a roto league. With batting average drainers like Sano and Khris Davis in the lineup, there are some benefits to having someone like Gurriel on the bench.

Round 21, Pick 205: Jordan Montgomery (SP – NYY)
I’m a big fan of Jordan Montgomery. He is a solid pitcher with excellent makeup and five pitches that he uses consistently.

I don’t think we’re looking at ace upside, but he will do enough to contribute to your ERA. I never suggest chasing wins, but I want any somewhat attractive pitcher with this Yankees lineup behind him.

Rounds 22-27: The Endgame

Round 22, Pick 215: Sean Manaea (SP – OAK)
Manaea was getting a lot of love before the 2017 season, but the changeup wasn’t the dominant pitch that we saw in 2016.

Can he get it back? Pitchers that are one adjustment away are always worth investing in deep in the draft.

Round 23, Pick 225: Marcus Semien (SS – OAK)
Semien has the health question mark looming over his head. Projections show something like a 20-11-.250 season in store and that would be plenty valuable in the middle infield. He was the last shortstop selected in this draft.

Round 24, Pick 235: Jake Odorizzi (SP – MIN)
Projections are tough, and the FIP was at 5.43 last year. A change of scenery could be precisely what Odorizzi needs. He still had an 11% swinging strike rate.

The upside might be a serviceable fantasy pitcher, but I still prefer him to the pitchers that went behind him in the 24th round: Dan Straily, Brent Honeywell (out for year), Michael Wacha, Alex Reyes, and Patrick Corbin.

Round 25, Pick 245: Kevin Kiermaier (OF – TB)
He could hit leadoff now for a depleted Rays lineup, and he’s much better than you might think. He’s a 20-20 threat that hit .276 last year.

He could still be a sneaky runs play and is coming dirt cheap in the 25th round. None of the remaining outfielders on the board offered that kind of counting stat upside.

Round 26, Pick 255: Eric Thames (1B/OF – MIL)
If played correctly, Thames could help your fantasy team. It is doubtful the Brewers are going to play him against lefties after that .664 OPS in 2017, and the team suddenly is full of sluggers vying for at-bats.

If you check the lineups and only play him against righties, you will reap the benefits of that .933 OPS bat. He could help you win your league in daily leagues but will be much more difficult to roster in weekly formats.

Round 27, Pick 265: Josh Hader (RP – MIL)
It looks like Hader is going to be in the bullpen to start the year and that is exactly where I want him. That 12.84 K/9 will play in any league, and if he keeps the walks down, he could be dominant.

There’s still the potential for him to start, so you might see multiple inning outings to keep him stretched out. This could be Chris Devenski-type value for 2018.

You can see the results of my draft here. I scored a 75/100, but I really didn’t expect to score highly when I chose some of the higher variance picks that I did. I did well as far as the league is concerned, finishing with the second highest projected finish. I liked the way this team turned out for the most part, but I don’t know if I will stick with this strategy come draft time.

There were some ace-like pitchers that made it to the fifth round in Zack Greinke and Yu Darvish. Chris Archer even made it to the sixth round. I probably would have felt better about snagging one of those guys and getting some higher quality hitters in the third or fourth round. Corey Seager and Gary Sanchez were sitting there in the third round and would have been excellent choices at that point.

Even without that change, this team has plenty of safe options like Bryant and Rendon but also has the upside potential of Zack Godley and Miguel Sano. If I diversify my risk, I should be able to complement this current team with some in-season additions and make a run.

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Shane McDonald is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Shane, check out his archive or follow him @coachshanemac.

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