🖥 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE THANKS
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

ADP Champs or Chumps: Keon Broxton & Trea Turner

If fantasy owners share a collective weakness, it's recency bias. How many times are we going to draft a guy based on what he did last season, or even the last month of last season, without any regard to what that player did before? Mike Trout was great out of the box, but there are a million Josh Hamiltons and Nick Franklins for every player that actually meets our ridiculous expectations.

Yet, here we go again. Trea Turner leaves the board in the first round based on a little more than 300 MLB PAs, while Keon Broxton seems to be becoming that sleeper everyone hypes to the point that he's no longer sleeping. Is it prudent to avoid these guys, or can they succeed?

The answer lies in setting realistic expectations for both.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy baseball lineup tools and resources:

 

The Fantasy Jury is Out

Keon Broxton (OF, MIL) ADP: 206.8

As of writing this, Broxton is affordable. Many experts are trying to increase his cost though, so he may not stay cheap for long. Broxton hit .242/.354/.430 with nine dingers and 23 steals in 244 PAs last year. He added eight bombs and 18 steals in 199 Triple-A PAs before reaching the Show, so 20/20 in 2017 seems realistic if he can hit the ball.

That was a massive challenge last year, as Broxton struck out 36.1 percent of the time. That's nearly double the league average! He piled up Ks in the minors too, so his contact rate could stay ugly for his entire career. Still, there is room for growth. His 14.7 percent SwStr% was terrible, but not quite 36.1 percent K% terrible. He also knows the zone, evidenced by a 22.1 percent O-Swing% and 14.8 percent BB% last season. Broxton strikes out way too often to help fantasy lineups with average, but it should improve from last year.

More concerning is the streaky nature of Broxton's power. His 30.2 percent FB% means that he needs to run HR/FB rates well above average to hit for the power many owners are expecting. He can do that, as evidenced by his 25.7 percent HR/FB last year, his above average rate of Barrels per Batted Ball Event (11.1 percent), and his history of prorated 20 HR seasons in the minor leagues. He could also fail, which would result similarly to the 10 homers he hit in roughly a full season in 2015. Broxton has power potential, but it is not a guarantee without more fly balls.

His .373 BABIP is also concerning, as Broxton was a batting average drag despite it. He posted a rate above .350 at every stop in the High Minors, save one .325 figure at Double-A, hinting that his 25 percent LD% is not unrealistic to maintain. He also has plus wheels and a microscopic IFFB% (2.9 percent), so he should consistently beat the league average of .300 with relative ease.

Overall, Broxton is fine as a sleeper you can dream on. He could turn into Mike Cameron, a player who pleased fantasy owners for years with a blend of power and speed. He could also be Drew Stubbs, who enticed owners with flashes of power and speed but mostly ate into batting averages and auction budgets. Roster Broxton, but don't chase him so far that you are not willing to cut bait if necessary.

Verdict: Champ

 

Trea Turner (2B/OF, WAS) ADP: 13.8

Turner slashed an impressive .342/.370/.567 with 13 HR and 33 SB (six CS) at the MLB level last season. His speed is the real deal, as he posted 25 steals (two CS) at Triple-A before his callup. He runs often and his success rate is phenomenal, making 60+ bags a very realistic projection for 2017.

Steals alone probably do not justify his current price though. Turner's power potential is hampered by a 31.7 percent FB%, as you can't hit a homer with a ground ball. His 16.7 percent HR/FB also seems high considering that Turner never cracked double digit homers in the minor leagues. Add in his average 7.5 percent rate of Barrels per Batted Ball Event, and Turner should not be drafted with the expectation of last year's pop.

His .388 BABIP seems primed for regression, but Turner figures to beat the league average just like Broxton can. He won't hit .387 on grounders again, but his legs make .300 possible, and even likely. A 25.2 percent LD% also seems likely to regress, but Turner's extensive history of plus-plus minor league BABIPs (.369 at Triple-A last year) may suggest a line drive swing in addition to his wheels. Don't expect .340, but Turner should hit for a solid average.

Many have criticized Turner for not walking often (4.3 percent BB%), but his eye is actually average (32.6 percent O-Swing%). Turner doesn't walk because pitchers know it's effectively a double if he does. He can also play OF, 2B, and MI, with SS eligibility likely coming in the season's first few weeks. Turner's spot at the top of the lineup makes him an elite contributor in steals, average, and runs. Draft him without expecting pop, and you will be satisfied with the results.

Verdict: Champ

 

More Player Outlooks




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Daily Stats & Leaders
All Pitcher Matchups
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Tristan da Silva

Ruled Out for Monday
Jalen Suggs

Ruled Out for Monday
Quentin Grimes

Uncertain to Suit Up Against Nets
Aaron Wiggins

Ruled Out for Monday
Dominick Barlow

Might Miss Tuesday's Meeting with Brooklyn
Deandre Ayton

Available Against Suns
Jalen Duren

Available for Monday
Alexandre Sarr

Off the Injury Report for Tuesday
Austin Reaves

May Return on Tuesday
Tyler Herro

Not Ready to Return Tuesday
Ron Holland II

Ruled Out for Monday
OG Anunoby

Ruled Out for Tuesday
Jerami Grant

Ruled Out for Monday
Jalen Brunson

to Exit Knicks Lineup Tuesday
Joel Embiid

on Track to Return Tuesday
Jonas Valančiūnas

Jonas Valanciunas Available for Monday
Victor Wembanyama

Listed as Questionable for Tuesday
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Out Tuesday, Considered Day-to-Day
Peyton Watson

Will Play on Monday
Josh Minott

Starting on Monday
Jalen Green

to Remain Out for 2-3 More Weeks
Ilya Sorokin

to Miss Tuesday's Game
DK Metcalf

Suspended for Two Games Following Confrontation with Fan
Christian Dvorak

Returns to Flyers Lineup
Elias Pettersson

Still Out Monday
Brandon Montour

to Miss Four Weeks After Hand Surgery
Miles Wood

Available Against Kings
Zach Werenski

Ruled Out Monday
Leo Carlsson

Won't Play Monday
CFB

Byrum Brown Entering Transfer Portal
CFB

Bobby Petrino Joining Bill Belichick as North Carolina's Offensive Coordinator
TreVeyon Henderson

Exits Week 16 Victory with Head Injury
Mikhail Sergachev

Sets Up Two Goals
Fabian Zetterlund

Extends Scoring Streak With Three-Point Effort
Cale Makar

Has Three-Point Performance Against Wild
Tomas Hertl

Notches Three Points Sunday
Connor McDavid

Continues Scoring Tear Against Vegas
Sidney Crosby

Becomes Pittsburgh's All-Time Leading Scorer
Tristan Jarry

to Miss Couple of Weeks
Lamar Jackson

Questionable to Return in Week 16 with Back Injury
Willson Contreras

Shipped to the Red Sox
Patrick Kane

to Miss Fifth Consecutive Game
Tyson Kozak

Misses Second Consecutive Game
Jack Roslovic

Ready to Return Sunday
NJ

Arseni Gritsyuk Back in Devils Lineup Sunday
Timo Meier

Available Sunday
Jack Hughes

Returns From 18-Game Absence Sunday
J.T. Miller

Out Week-to-Week
Quinshon Judkins

Done for the Season with Broken Leg
Gardner Minshew

Likely Tore His ACL on Sunday
Nick Chubb

Officially Active Against Raiders in Week 16
Gardner Minshew

Won't Return in Week 16
Woody Marks

Officially Inactive for Week 16
Quinshon Judkins

Carted Off in Week 16, Ruled Out with Apparent Leg Injury
Tua Tagovailoa

Dolphins Hope to Trade Tua Tagovailoa in the Offseason
Woody Marks

Not Expected to Play in Week 16
Washington Commanders

Commanders to Retain Dan Quinn, Fire Joe Whitt?
New York Giants

Marcus Freeman is a Top Candidate in Giants' Head Coaching Search
Cincinnati Bengals

Zac Taylor Expected to Return as Bengals' Head Coach in 2026
Las Vegas Raiders

Pete Carroll's Future with Las Vegas Raiders in Doubt
Tee Higgins

Active for Week 16 Against Dolphins
Woody Marks

Plans to Play Against Raiders in Week 16
Tee Higgins

Likely to Play at Miami on Sunday
Drake London

Expected to Return in Week 16
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Expected to Play, Will Ease Back In
Romeo Doubs

Questionable to Return Against Bears in Week 16
Brandon Lowe

Pirates Acquire Brandon Lowe in Three-Team Trade
Shane Baz

Orioles Acquire Shane Baz From the Rays
CFB

Darian Mensah Returning to Duke Next Season
CFB

Josh Hoover Linked to Indiana in Transfer Portal
CFB

Arch Manning Agrees to Reduced Compensation for 2026 Season
Michael King

Padres Bring Michael King Back on Three-Year Deal
Logan Webb

Will Pitch for Team USA in World Baseball Classic
Tarik Skubal

Joins Team USA for World Baseball Classic
CFB

Will Muschamp Becoming Next Texas Defensive Coordinator
CFB

Beau Pribula Set to Enter Transfer Portal
Bo Bichette

Willing to Make the Move to Second Base
CFB

Jeremiyah Love Officially Heading to NFL Draft
CFB

Jake Merklinger Leaving Tennessee for Transfer Portal

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP