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24 Deep League Targets (Fantasy Baseball)

24 Deep League Targets (Fantasy Baseball)

If you play in a deeper league than the standard 12-team 23 player roster settings then you’ll need to dig a lot deeper than most articles will point you towards. Their version of a sleeper is anyone drafted between 150 and 225. Today, we will start with players whose average draft position is after 250 and move all the way to a few players being drafted outside the top 600.

Now, in deep leagues, you can’t get by with taking a flier on someone like Tyler Glasnow or J.P. Crawford. If you whiff, it can kill your season. The name of the game is to find as many safe and reliable players as possible. As you surely know, that can be a challenge once you enter into the later stage of your drafts. That’s why I’ve compiled a list for you of my favorite 24 late-round targets in deeper leagues.

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Safe Sluggers

These three players are all in different stages of their careers, but I’d bet on each of them finishing worth more than 100 picks above their ADP in terms of performance. McMahon is one worth reaching for after he batted .355 with 63 extra-base hits and double-digit steals in just 119 games. That should translate quite well to Coors Field if he can keep earning himself the starting first basemen job this spring. Grichuk has flashed second-tier power at stages in his career, but was held back by a coaching staff that insisted he change his aggressive approach. With the big slugger being let loose and in a hitter’s ballpark, 30+ homers is a fair estimate. Finally, we come to Hanley Ramirez who struggled last year through injuries. He is just one year removed from hitting 30 homers with 111 RBI and a .286 BA. Assuming he can stay healthy, hitting third in the Red Sox order should lead to a terrific stat line.

Stat Stuffers

None of these players are big power hitters, but each can be relied upon to produce at an above-replacement level in at least three categories. Polanco came on strong in the second-half last year with 10 HR, 7 SB and a .293 BA. He has the potential to be a 20/20 shortstop this season and is virtually free. Piscotty struggled last year while dealing with injuries and a sick mother, but there is no reason to give up on him considering just two years ago he batted .270 with 85+ runs and RBI. Seeing that he hasn’t yet entered the prime of his career, returning to that is a decent possibility. Car-Go has seen his ADP rise of late since re-signing with the Rockies, so if you want him, you may need to grab him around pick 250 just to be safe. His overall stat-line was unimpressive in 2017, but he really turned it on the second-half, batting .321 with 35 runs and 35 RBI. He is locked into a starting job and a safe bet to bounceback this year.

Saves are Saves

There really isn’t much to this besides the fact that every single closer needs to be owned. Each of them has competition for the job and may lose it with one misstep, but each is also the current front-runner. They should all provide healthy ratios and 60+ Ks, so there isn’t much of a downside. If you get just 10 saves out of them, a late-round pick would be well worth it.

Ratio Kings

If you haven’t considered the Marmol Strategy yet, I’d like to kindly point you that direction in case it works with your league settings. It is practically cheating if you can properly execute it, and these super relievers are the key to it’s success. No, they won’t rack up saves, but both Green and Hader should help considerably in ERA, WHIP and Ks while pitching in a few wins here and there. Hader is also in-line for saves should Corey Knebel struggle or go to the DL at any point. You can check out the Marmol Strategy here.

The Secret Weapon

The Braves 6’3″ lefty has ace type stuff. He is slated to start the year in the minor leagues thanks to a sprained ankle he suffered in Spring Training, but it should only be a matter of weeks before the immensely talented 21-year-old gets called back up to showcase his stuff. Last season, the top prospect lit up the minor leagues with a 2.62 ERA and 10.7 K/9. He flashed that type of stuff in the majors and is polished enough to produce plenty for deep league squads this season.

12 Super Deep Targets

  • C.J. Edwards (RP – CHC): ADP #353 – Closer-in-waiting, ratio king
  • Alex Avila (C – ARI): ADP #356 – Batted ball legend, full playing-time
  • Mallex Smith (OF – TBR): ADP #358 – 30+ steals and a solid BA
  • Cameron Maybin (OF – MIA): ADP #361 – 30+ steals, full playing-time
  • Jose Reyes (SS – NYM): ADP #378 – 15 HR, 24 SB last season, multiple positions
  • Kolten Wong (2B – STL): ADP #387 – 15/15 potential with a strong BA
  • Sean Newcomb (SP – ATL): ADP #391 – Huge K-upside, job security
  • Jedd Gyorko (3B – STL): ADP #428 – 50 HRs over last two seasons, .280+ BA
  • Dominic Leone (RP – STL): ADP #449 – Current favorite for closer job
  • C.J. Cron (1B – TB): ADP #463 – 20 HR, 85 RBI per full season
  • Jorge Soler (OF – KC): ADP #493 – Big-time power upside, full playing-time
  • Amir Garrett (SP – CIN): ADP #612 – Velo uptick this off-season, great ceiling
  • Colby Rasmus (OF – BAL): ADP #628 – Carried near .900 OPS last season

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