Ian Desmond (SS, TEX) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers

BALLER MOVE: Target ~100

CURRENT ADP: 113.3

ANALYSIS: The erratic play of Ian Desmond, the long-standing shortstop for the Washington Nationals, has brought up some uncertainty about his draft stock. Fantasy owners can view Desmond as an aging player in a physically demanding position who is starting to decline, or as a player who still has a lot to offer but just had an off year and is looking to hit the reset button.

Over the last four years, Desmond has seen his batting average plummet (.292 in 2012, .233 in 2015) and strikeout rate skyrocket (20.7% in 2012, 29.2% in 2015). However, his counting stats have, for the most part, remained stagnant or improved. Other than last year, there has been no correlation between the negative trends in average and K% and his overall offensive production.

Of course we cannot ignore the 2015 season, but Desmond has always played through injuries and this may be a sign of his toughness rather than his age. A full offseason and a change of scenery -- he is projected to play left field for the Rangers -- could help him get back on track. After the worst year of his career, fantasy owners could be hesitant to draft the 30-year-old shortstop. With eligibility at a thin shortstop position, the potential for cost-effectiveness is there. Desmond may not have fit this profile in years past, but 2016 is a new year and he is flying way under the radar.