
Articles

OPS Underachievers: Using Differences in xOPS to Judge Performance
Add a player's on-base-percentage to his slugging-percentage and you wind up with OPS. Easy-peasy, lemon squeezy. But some things don't need to be complicated to be useful and descriptive. There are a hundred ways to judge a baseball player's performance but OPS remains one of the best proxies for quickly judging a player's overall offensive […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Break the League: Fantrax Points League Ranker
I never thought I'd ever say this but it looks like I'm going vegetarian for this article because there's no real beef here. Those that have been reading along with this series know that I've had some harsh words for ESPN, Yahoo, and CBS, as I think they often do a disservice to their points […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Break the League: CBS Points League Ranker
Much like their milquetoast television lineup, CBS points leagues are like a warm bath of mediocrity. Are they great? No-oooo, but are they awful? Also, no. I mean, you're never really going to want to watch a Chuck Lorre sitcom or the latest chapter in naval policing, but they can still serve a purpose. Because sometimes […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Break the League: Yahoo Points League Ranker
A hot mess...Oh, I'm sorry. Didn't someone just ask how I would describe Yahoo point leagues in three words or less? No? Oh. Well for the record, if anyone ever wants to know how I would describe Yahoo point leagues in three words or less, my official answer is, "a hot mess". The system was […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Break the League: The ESPN Points League Ranker
It might always be in fashion to go after the worldwide leader but this not just some critique de rigueur of their points game and coverage. I actually have a soft spot for ESPN as they were home to my original league for years and our scoring is somewhat similar to their default settings. When […]
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Introducing the RotoBaller Points League Ranker Tool
Its time to shine some love down on point league players and help you crush your leagues with easy to understand and easy to leverage information that will put you streets ahead of the average competition. That's right, you over there who was thrilled last year to draft Ronald Acuna Jr. in the first round […]
Nicklaus Gaut
2020 Second Base Rankings - H2H Points Leagues
Points leagues may seem like a slight variation from traditional 5x5 category scoring leagues but you must approach draft day with a different strategy if you wish to truly compete. Rankings themselves are a different beast altogether, as category specialists like Mallex Smith and Dee Gordon (stolen bases), Kyle Schwarber and Franmil Reyes (home runs), […]
Nicklaus Gaut
2020 Shortstop Rankings - H2H Points Leagues
Points leagues may seem like a slight variation from traditional 5x5 category scoring leagues but you must approach draft day with a different strategy if you wish to truly compete. Rankings themselves are a different beast altogether, as category specialists like Mallex Smith and Dee Gordon (stolen bases), Kyle Schwarber and Franmil Reyes (home runs), […]
Nicklaus Gaut
2020 Catcher Rankings - H2H Points Leagues
Points leagues may seem like a slight variation from traditional 5x5 category scoring leagues, but you must approach draft day with a different strategy if you wish to truly compete. Rankings themselves are a different beast altogether, as category specialists like Mallex Smith and Dee Gordon (stolen bases), Kyle Schwarber and Franmil Reyes (home runs), […]
Nicklaus Gaut
2020 Offseason Starting Pitcher Rankings (Part 3) - Fantasy Baseball Mixed Leagues
We continue with our analysis of the early 2020 fantasy baseball starting pitcher rankings by looking at the middle tiers. To read part one, click right here, or right here for part two. After a record-setting year for offense and a sense among the industry that 2020 likely won't be dramatically different, being able to […]
Nicklaus Gaut
2020 Offseason Starting Pitcher Rankings (Part 1) - Fantasy Baseball Mixed Leagues
It's never too early to start looking ahead to the next baseball season, so here we deliver our 2020 rankings to those of you looking to scratch your fantasy itch. Today we are bringing you part one of our 2020 starting pitcher rankings and analysis - you can read part two here. We know you're […]
Nicklaus Gaut
2020 Offseason Starting Pitcher Rankings (Part 2) - Fantasy Baseball Mixed Leagues
We continue with our analysis of the early 2020 fantasy baseball starting pitcher rankings by looking at the middle tiers. To read part one, click right here. After a record-setting year for offense and a sense among the industry that 2020 likely won't be dramatically different, being able to navigate the ever-murkier waters of starting […]
Nicklaus Gaut
2020 Offseason Second Base Rankings - Fantasy Baseball Mixed Leagues
It's never too early to start looking ahead to the next baseball season, so here we deliver our 2020 fantasy baseball rankings to those of you looking to scratch your fantasy itch. Whether you're already eliminated from fantasy football contention, or you're getting a head start on next year's keeper selections, RotoBaller has got you […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Fleaflicker's Most Added and Dropped: Week 16
Every once in a while, the schedule gods look down and gift us exactly what we need, exactly when we need it. After a grueling 15 weeks and a rollercoaster filled with ups and downs, and even more downs, it's time for all of the league's biggest losers to put up or shut up in […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Albert Wilson Fails to Impress
Cleared from concussion protocol, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Albert Wilson didn't do much for those owners who took a chance on the speedy wide receiver ahead of a prime matchup with a bad Giants Defense. Wilson's eight targets led all Dolphins wide receivers and he managed to convert five of them for a total of […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Ryan Fitzpatrick Serviceable in Loss
Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick turned in another solid performance in a losing effort on Sunday, throwing for 279 yards and two touchdowns in a 36-20 loss to the New York Giants. Fitzpatrick didn’t throw an interception for the first time in more than a month but still managed to contribute a brutal turnover, fumbling […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Patrick Laird Lays an Egg
The last man standing in the backfield, Miami Dolphins running back Patrick Laird was a non-factor in fantasy on Sunday, rushing for 46 yards and scoring just four points in standard leagues. Laird was even more ineffective in the passing game, catching two of his five targets for eight yards. In theory, Laird will have […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Devante Parker Scores Two More Touchdowns
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Devante Parker had another big game in a 36-20 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday, scoring 19 standard league points on four receptions and two touchdowns. Parker finished with 72 yards on the day, putting Miami on the board for the first time with a 20-yard touchdown in the […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Fleaflicker's Most Added and Dropped: Week 15
Week 14 was a boring one on Tank Street, with all of the crowd favorites managing to take care of business and keep on losing. We did have another early contender fizzle out after Atlanta won their third game out of five, after starting the season a near-perfect 1-7. With two of their three remaining […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Ryan Fitzpatrick Pulls Little Out of His Hat
Coming off of his best game of the year and facing a subpar New York Jets Defense, many fantasy owners likely put their playoff hopes in the hands of Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, hoping the journeyman had a little more magic left. Unfortunately for those wayward fantasy players, Fitzpatrick's tricks on the field fizzled […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Devante Parker Leaves With Concussion
In the middle of a breakout season and coming off of the best game of his career, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Devante Parker was forced out of the Dolphins 22-21 loss to the New York Jets on Sunday after suffering a concussion. Parker was removed from the game after hauling in a 21-yard catch at […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Fleaflicker's Most Added and Dropped: Week 14
Week 13 just served to remind us all that anything can happen in the National Football League and that you can't ever look past the New York Jets when you're trying to lose. The Cincinnati Bengals learned that lesson on Sunday, beating the Jets handily in a game that wasn't even as close as the […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Ryan Fitzpatrick Turns Back the Clock
Picked off on the first play of the game, Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick rebounded to lead Miami to a 37-31 victory over Philadelphia in Week 13, throwing for a season-high 365 yards and three touchdowns. Down 10-0 within the first four minutes of the game, Fitzpatrick proceeded to lead the Dolphins on five straight […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Devante Parker Blows Up in Dolphins Victory
Already in the midst of a breakout campaign, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Devante Parker put up career high fantasy points in a 37-31 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13, scoring 31 points in standard leagues. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was picked off trying to find Parker on the first play of the game but […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Fleaflicker's Most Added and Dropped: Week 13
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what a champion loser looks like! The Cincinnati Bengals had every reason to accidentally win in Week 12, as the Steelers were without James Conner and JuJu Smith-Schuster, and were being led by Mason Rudolph, who proved so ineffective that he was eventually replaced by someone named Devlin Hodges. […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Devante Parker Remains Consistent Option
Even on one of the league's worst offenses, Miami Dolphins wide receiver Devante Parker continues to keep a high floor, most recently converting six of his 11 targets for 91 yards in the 41-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns. Parker has been Miami's unquestioned No. 1 receiver since Preston Williams was lost for the season […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Is Mike Trout Still the #1 Pick in 2020?
Is it time to talk ADP already? Affectionately known as Mike Trout Doubting-Season, this is the time of year when some touts stick out sorely in declaring that the best player of this - and possibly any - generation should not be chosen first overall in fantasy. Instead, they have declared that it should be […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Mike Gesicki Scores For First Time This Year
At a position where just a heartbeat can sometimes qualify you as viable, Miami Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki has occasionally popped up as a streaming candidate in 2019, only to mostly disappoint his owners. In Sunday's 41-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns, Gesicki got off the snide, scoring his first touchdown of the year […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Kalen Ballage Plods Through Another Loss
Looking back, it's hard to believe that Miami Dolphins running back Kalen Ballage was being drafted ahead of former Dolphin starter Kenyan Drake coming into this season. Completely ineffective all year, things haven't improved since getting the backfield all to himself following the trade of Drake and the suspension of Mark Walton, who had supplanted […]
Nicklaus Gaut
Ryan Fitzpatrick Salvages Fantasy Day
Down 28-3 at halftime and with the game virtually out of reach, Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick surprisingly ended his day with 21 fantasy points in the eventual 41-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns, making him the sixth-highest scoring quarterback in Week 12. Fitzpatrick was the king of garbage-time on Sunday, throwing for two touchdowns […]
Nicklaus Gaut