Kenley Jansen Rankings Debate - Comparing RotoBaller's Rankers

We continue our rankings debates with a look at the game's best reliever. RotoBaller's expert writers have come up with our consensus rankings for mixed leagues, but that doesn't mean we agreed on everything. In this space, we'll hear from rankers with the biggest differences of opinion on a well-known player and have them defend […]

Points Leagues Shortstops: Overvalued and Undervalued

As we’ve discussed before, points leagues are a bit of a different beast than the more popular head-to-head and rotisserie formats. One of the easiest and best ways to ensure that you’re making a smooth transition between these disparate styles is to identify players whose values change most. Luckily for you, you don’t have to go it […]

Points Leagues Third Basemen: Overvalued and Undervalued

Most fantasy baseball analysis is geared toward rotisserie and head-to-head formats. Given the popularity of those setups, that's understandable. But plenty of folks out there play in points leagues, and player values can change quite a bit in that format compared to the more mainstream variants. This series is aimed at identifying some of the players […]

Ozzie Albies Rankings Debate - Comparing RotoBaller's Rankers

We continue our rankings debate with a look at a young player whose draft stock seems to be rising by the day and could be a make-or-break selection in many drafts. RotoBaller's expert writers have come up with our consensus rankings for mixed leagues, but that doesn't mean we agreed on everything. In this space, […]

Points Leagues Second Basemen: Overvalued and Undervalued

Points leagues are less popular than the traditional rotisserie or head-to-head scoring formats. Consequently, most fantasy analysis is geared toward the latter styles. As anyone who’s played in a points league before knows, though, player values can be quite a bit different under those settings. All week, I’ll be offering my thoughts on potential points […]

Points Leagues First Basemen: Overvalued and Undervalued

As we’ve discussed before, points leagues are a bit of a different animal from the more popular head-to-head and rotisserie formats. One of the easiest and best ways to ensure that you’re making a smooth transition between these disparate styles is to identify players whose values change most. Fortunately, you don’t have to go it […]

Jose Abreu Rankings Debate: Comparing RotoBaller's Rankers

We on the RotoBaller staff have come up with our consensus rankings for mixed leagues, but there's plenty of debate over individual players' proper place in the pecking order. In this space, we'll hear from rankers with the biggest differences of opinion on a well-known player and have them defend their position against each other. […]

The Most Profitable Pitchers of the Last Five Years

If you missed last week’s column on the most profitable hitters of the last five years, you can find it here. That post explains the methodology behind this work, and acknowledges the considerable help I received from colleagues throughout the process. Today I'm here to take a look at the pitchers - players who have […]

The Most Profitable Hitters of the Last Five Years

As you may have heard me mention on Twitter or the fantasy baseball subreddit, I recently acquired the last five seasons’ worth of average draft positon (ADP) data for NFBC and all three of the major fantasy platforms (Yahoo, ESPN, and CBS). I am terrible at Excel, so it’s taken a lot of trial and […]

Kill the Quality Start?

“Kill the win” entered the baseball lexicon years ago. It originally referred to the disproportionate attention a pitcher victory got from the casual fan, and it was one of the major arguments advanced during the rise of analytics. The phrase has been adopted by fantasy owners as well, as more and more leagues ditch – […]

Snake Drafts and the Subtle Art of the Snipe

For the last several years, I’ve played almost exclusively in auction leagues. It’s a personal preference that isn’t unique or “correct.” I have a lot of reasons for this preference. That’s not what we’re going to talk about today, though. Instead, let’s spend some time touting one of the virtues of traditional snake drafts – […]

2018 First Base - Early Points League Rankings and Tiers

If you play in a head-to-head points league, or season long format, you already know how difficult it can be to find fantasy analysis tailored to the format. Not only are the traditional rotisserie and head-to-head arrangements more popular, but the very nature of points leagues makes them difficult to cover in a general sense […]

Fixing A Broken Fantasy Baseball League

Coming into last season, my home league of 13 years had a problem. Since becoming a rotisserie league, adopting an auction draft, and instituting a new keeper system six years earlier, only one person had won it: Me. Let me state up front and unequivocally that I don’t intend or want for this article to […]

Forgetting The One That Got Away

If you’re a voracious consumer of baseball analysis – a judgment that, if you’re reading one of my articles almost three months before the season starts, I would deem fair – you’ve heard the following phrase plenty of times: Better a year too early than a year too late. This, of course, refers to older […]

2018 Starting Pitchers - Early Fantasy Baseball Tiered Rankings

Welcome back to the early edition of RotoBaller’s 2018 fantasy baseball rankings! As a reminder, this round of rankings comes to you courtesy of Pierre Camus and Jeff Kahntroff, in addition to yours truly. Today, I’ll be taking a look at how we ranked starting pitchers. As you peruse the info below, keep in mind […]

2018 Outfielders - Early Fantasy Baseball Tiered Rankings

It's a new year, and with that comes our first set of rankings for the 2018 fantasy baseball season. As a reminder, our first round of rankings comes to you courtesy of Pierre Camus and Jeff Kahntroff, in addition to yours truly. Today, I’ll be finishing up the hitter side of things with a look at […]

2018 Third Base - Early Fantasy Baseball Tiered Rankings

Today, I’ll be taking a look at how we ranked players at the hot corner. Third base offered an abundance of productive fantasy assets last year, and 2018 figures to be no different. In case you missed it, you can also check out our rankings and analysis for catcher, first base and second base - […]

2018 Catchers - Early Fantasy Baseball Tiered Rankings

With the holidays in the rearview mirror, it’s time to turn our attention to the upcoming fantasy baseball season. (Or, if you’re me, it’s finally time to start writing about it now that people aren’t focused on the vastly inferior but more popular fantasy sport that is football). Our first round of rankings comes to […]

Two Ohtanis Aren't Better Than One

Even before Shohei Ohtani made a series of somewhat surprising decisions – forgoing a nine-figure salary by coming to MLB two years early, then signing with the Los Angeles Angels – fantasy owners were consumed by a vital question: How would the major platforms handle Ohtani? Japan’s answer to Babe Ruth presented a logistical quandary. […]

Reviewing Kyle Bishop's Bold Predictions for 2017

What’s even more fun than making bold predictions? Looking back at the end of the season to see how good (or so, so hilariously bad) they were. Just like with the preseason pieces in March, I’m kicking off the review of our RotoBaller staff’s 2017 bold predictions. Let's get to it.Be sure to check all […]

Week 26 Waiver Wire - Outfield

Welcome back to the Outfield Waiver Wire, where we look at the best outfielders available in at least 50 percent of Yahoo leagues. Consider this column your recommendations for Week 26 outfield waiver wire pickups. Even now, in championship week, there are players floating around on the waiver wire who could make a difference for your fantasy […]

Week 26 Cut List: Players on the Chopping Block

Welcome back, one last time in 2017, to the Cut List. With the season coming to a close next weekend, almost any player who isn’t helping your cause could justifiably be considered a cut in redraft leagues. That makes this final installment somewhat more challenging, and necessitates a minor tweak in format. Instead of spotlighting […]

Week 25 Waiver Wire - Outfield

Welcome back to the Outfield Waiver Wire, where we look at the best outfielders available in at least 50 percent of Yahoo leagues. Consider this column your recommendations for Week 25 outfield waiver wire pickups. We're nearing the finish line, but there are still plenty of guys who can help you floating around on the waiver wire. […]

Week 25 Cut List: Players on the Chopping Block

Welcome back to the Cut List. Each weekend from now until the end of the season, I’ll be offering my thoughts on players who don’t deserve to keep drawing a nonexistent salary on your fake baseball teams. Now that we’re beyond most league’s trade deadlines, the only way to improve your team is via the […]

Week 24 Waiver Wire - Outfield

Welcome back to the Outfield Waiver Wire, where we look at the best outfielders available in at least 50 percent of Yahoo leagues. Consider this column your recommendations for Week 24 outfield waiver wire pickups. We're entering the stretch run, but there are still plenty of guys who can help you floating around on the waiver wire. […]

Week 24 Cut List: Players on the Chopping Block

Welcome back to the Cut List. Each weekend from now until the end of the season, I’ll be offering my thoughts on players who don’t deserve to keep drawing a nonexistent salary on your fake baseball teams. Now that we’re beyond most league’s trade deadlines, the only way to improve your team is via the […]

Jose Pirela (2B/OF, SDP) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 9% Yahoo ANALYSIS: Entering the season, it's fair to assume that the vast majority of fantasy owners had never heard of Jose Pirela. 27-year-old utilitymen with no MLB track record, no prospect hype, and no guaranteed starting role on a lousy team tend not to inspire much excitement. Pirela's performance, however, […]

Blake Treinen (RP, OAK) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 37% Yahoo ANALYSIS: Blake Treinen opened the season as the Nationals' closer, but early struggles led to him quickly losing that role. Washington's bullpen was a nightmare during the entire first half, so they made a deal with the Athletics to acquire their best two relievers, Sean Doolittle and […]

Shane Greene (RP, DET) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 48% Yahoo ANALYSIS: Shane Greene hasn't recorded a save since August 28 and has allowed runs in two of his last three appearances. Still, he's the unquestioned closer for the Tigers and has performed well since assuming the role. Greene has converted all six of his save opportunities, with solid ratios […]

Jorge Polanco (2B/3B/SS, MIN) - Waiver Wire Pickups

BALLER MOVE: Add in All Leagues OWNED IN: 62% Yahoo ANALYSIS: The Twins would qualify for the playoffs if the season ended today, and Jorge Polanco's second-half surge is a big reason why. The 24-year-old infielder entered the All-Star break among the worst hitters in baseball, posting a pathetic .224/.273/.323 batting line. He's hit .317/.370/.576 since, with seven […]