The most important position in fantasy baseball is the outfield, simply because in standard leagues we need to start five. In addition, it is naturally the deepest position in fantasy baseball due to the volume of players. Each team plays two outfielders exclusively, and some play three. This allows for at least 75 legitimate options for fantasy baseball. Nevertheless, there are multiple sleepers at the outfield position. This is part two of our outfield sleepers (be sure to check out Part One), as it is such a deep position. Here are some to keep an eye on in the later rounds of your draft.
Ben Revere, Philadelphia Phillies
Revere’s average draft position is currently sitting at 219.3 in the 19th to 21st rounds. Think about what you are getting this late. Last year, Revere hit .305 with 22 stolen bases in just half as many at-bats as he will get this year (barring injury). Now, Revere has never hit a home run in his career, and is not a guy who will get many extra base hits. So, if slugging percentage is a category, he might need to be avoided. But as a career .285 hitter with potential to score 90 runs and steal 45 bases, he represents great value in the later rounds.
Avisail Garcia, Chicago White Sox
Garcia will be rising through the ADP ranks as the season nears, but for now he is a steal. Garcia’s ADP currently sits at 240.3 which is in the last few rounds of the entire draft. Garcia is a good fantasy baseball starter, and will be for a long time. At just 22 years old, he will look to command the middle of the White Sox lineup. Last year in just 161 at-bats Garcia was able to accrue a .301 batting average with five home runs and 21 RBI while scoring 19 runs and stealing three bases. That projects to a 20 HR, 84 RBI, 76 runs scored, and 12 stolen base season, all while hitting around .300. Garcia will be one of the fastest risers, so get him before anyone else can.
Michael Brantley, Cleveland Indians
Last year seems to be the first year everyone started to look at Brantley as a fantasy option. But this year, he should be looked at as a starter in your fourth or fifth outfield slot. Brantley’s ADP currently sits at 234.3, which is in the last few rounds of your draft. Like Garcia, Brantley has good value that late in a draft. Last season he put up some very impressive numbers for a late round player with a .284 average, 10 home runs, 73 runs batted in, 17 stolen bases, and scored 66 runs. In the second half of the season he hit over .290, and was a catalyst for the Indians offense. This year, expect him to be in the middle of the Indians order which promises a lot of RBI opportunities. Get Brantley in the late rounds, and plug him in as a starting outfielder. Not bad for a 22nd round pick in fantasy.
Others to keep an eye on: Denard Span, WSH, Peter Bourjos, STL, Garrett Jones, MIA.
ADP’s are based on data from FantasyPros.com
Stay tuned for the rest of the “Fantasy Baseball Draft Advice: Sleepers by Position” series.
