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

Insider Report: Prime Fantasy Baseball Draft Targets From an MLB Veteran

dylan carlson fantasy baseball rankings draft sleepers MLB injury news

Fantasy baseball draft targets and breakouts based on insights from MLB players, executives, scouts, and media. Scott Engel adds his fantasy baseball analysis.

Welcome back to our annual Fantasy Baseball Insider series on RotoBaller.com, where we take you inside Major League Baseball clubhouses, press boxes and front offices for exclusive insights that provide a completely unique edge on the competition. We give you an all-access pass to information and takes that simply won’t be found anywhere else, along with comprehensive Fantasy breakdowns.

On the condition of anonymity, former and current players, executives, scouts, and media members provide their unfiltered insights on key players and situations, and Scott Engel supplies his fantasy baseball analysis on their commentaries. These reports contain perspectives that you will not find anywhere else, from the truest experts on the game: The Fantasy Baseball Insider series won the Fantasy Sports Writers Association’s award for best Fantasy Baseball Series. Scott was also a finalist for the 2021 FSWA Fantasy Baseball Writer of the Year Award, as the nomination recognized his work on the Insider Series.

In this edition, we provide you with evaluations from a current MLB veteran who was a 2021 All-Star selection. He is regarded as a solid hitter who mostly works in the infield. He gave us his scouting reports on several guys he has played against over the last few years. His comments are in italics.

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

 

Fantasy Baseball Infield Perspectives

Tommy Pham (NFBC ADP – 256): “The muscles were severed across his back. He worked his butt off to get back on the field last season and now he should have all of his strength back. He is a year removed from his multiple injuries. I think he will have a bounce-back season.”

Engel’s Insider Angles: This player was referring to an off-field incident in October of 2020 when Pham was stabbed in the back. He had three surgeries beginning in August of 2020, on his back, hand and wrist. He will be coming off a much healthier offseason this time and a move to a top hitter’s park in Cincinnati makes Pham a quality bargain target. He had a BA of .229 last season, but the xBA was .258, and he had a .383 SLG, while his xSLG was .442. Pham is a good later target for a .265 average with numbers close to 20 homers and 15 steals.

Ke’Bryan Hayes (NFBC ADP -137): “I think he has been humbled a lot and he is going to be very hungry. His injury was a freak hand deal. He controls the strike zone and is a good gap-to-gap hitter who will naturally run into some home runs.”

Engel’s Insider Angles: Hayes is currently the 11th third baseman off the board, and there is a significant drop-off at the position after he is taken. If you don’t land one of the guys inside the top 10, you definitely have to take another shot on the upside of Hayes. He went on the DL last season because of a wrist issue, and his potential rise as a Major Leaguer was interrupted. This year, we should see Hayes emerge as a 15 home run/15 stolen base producer, and that is very valuable at a thinner fantasy position.

David Bednar (200): ”His stuff is really good, especially the splitter. I think he can be a strong closer because he does not get flustered by the moment. He’s got the guts, you can’t be mentally soft and have any doubts in your mind as a closer.”

Engel’s Insider Angles: Bednar’s appeal has taken a slight hit as recently published reports have indicated he could share save opportunities with Chris Stratton. You should still bet on Bednar, who had a 32.5 K% last season and saved 24 games in the minors in 2018 and 2019. As this player has indicated, being a closer is not just about having live stuff, there is also a necessary mentality to operating effectively in the role. Many other MLB players I have spoken with agree on that, and this player knows Bednar well enough to have much confidence in him. When you are getting to the point of picking off later closer candidates, Bednar should be one of your top targets.

Christian Yelich (101): “I don’t see why he can’t have a rebound year. He has likely made some adjustments in his prep and workout program. His swing looked the same, so his troubles were kind of bizarre, he was just not in a rhythm. Maybe he just lost his approach, but to the naked eye, he seemed to be the same kind of guy. You get into ruts as a hitter, but I think he will get back on track.”

Engel’s Insider Angles: This player is not the only one I have spoken to this preseason who is very optimistic that Yelich will regain much of his better form. In 2020, he never got on track in a shortened season, and last year he dealt with back issues. At 30 years old, he can’t be written off to not produce well again, and Yelich is a good value play who can still deliver a .280 average with 30 homers and 15 steals. His Hard Hit% of 48.4 last season was right in line with his career norm. Read more exclusive takes on Yelich and our next player spotlighted from a longtime MLB scout in this recent edition of the Insider Report.

Dylan Carlson (162): “This is a young Carlos Beltran. He is kind of underrated, and is a switch hitter with power. He’s got a good head on his shoulders. He is a gap hitter who can give you 20 homers. Also, the N.L. Central pitching is going to be mostly terrible outside of Milwaukee. He is one of those under-the-radar guys who is really going to hit. We were playing against him and someone said he reminded him of a young Beltran, and I said I can see him as that same kind of hitter.”

Engel’s Insider Angles:  After hearing this type of lofty comparison from players who watched and competed against Carlson last season, I have been eagerly pushing him up my draft boards ahead of his current ADP. Carlson elevated his Launch Angle from 9.3 to 15.1 in 2021, so it is evident he has been on a path to hit for more power. We could see a .275 average with 20-plus homers this season, with the promise for even better production. After talking to both scouts and players this preseason, it is apparent Carlson could be on the verge of a significant breakout campaign.

Tyler Stephenson (132): “That guy can flat-out hit.  He has a short swing with power and he hits to all fields. It adds value that he will be playing every day in that division. As a rule, I would look at hitters against that division a whole lot.”

Engel’s Insider Angles: Remember this player’s recommendation on taking advantage of the N.L. Central pitching when faced with tight draft and lineup decisions this season. Stephenson is now ready for prime time as a true No. 1 catcher this season and should be a top target once the top 5 or so players at the position are off the board. You will be very satisfied with an average in the range of .270 and close to 15 homers.

Daulton Varsho (88): “I can see a breakout season ahead. He’s a heck of an athlete. Nobody else catches a night game and plays the outfield the next day like that. That shows mental toughness, too. He is tough at the plate and you will see him barrel it up a lot. You surely will see a lot of hard hit balls from him. I expect him to keep getting better.”

Engel’s Insider Angles: Because he qualifies at catcher, Varsho is well worth his ADP to possibly provide a rare combination of 20 homers and 10 steals at the position. Varsho’s Barrel% was 7.3 last season, but this player is looking for an improvement in that regard. Varsho hit for high averages in the minors, so he may continue to evolve as a pure hitter, while his HR and SB potential is already evident. There is much to like already and the potential for some improvement, making Varsho one of the top 5 fantasy catchers heading into the 2022 season.

Kevin Gausman (66): “He has an elite changeup, and will be just fine switching leagues. He has elite off-speed stuff and keeps the ball on the ground. In the N.L. West, he was facing the Dodgers and Padres and going to Colorado, too.”

Engel’s Insider Angles: There does not seem to be much skepticism from fantasy leaguers or those inside or close to the game that Gausman will see much of a drop-off statistically despite the move from San Francisco to Toronto. Gausman started elevating his strikeout percentages in 2019 and he was at 29.3% in 2021. His xFIP was 3.28 last season. Gausman does have experience working in A.L. East parks from having spent five-plus seasons with the Orioles. He will also have ample run support to give him a shot at soaring past last year’s career high win total of 14. You may see only minor dips in his overall numbers other than wins, but Gausman should still be a top 20 fantasy starter.

Sonny Gray (167): “He will do really good in the American League. He has balls, and just comes after you. I don’t like facing him. He will be just fine, and he will be in a new division, so hitters will have to take time to adjust to him. He’s got the ‘it’ factor, he wants to come after you.”

Engel’s Angles: When you consider the ADP, Gray may not be getting enough respect from fantasy players, even though opposing hitters certainly give him the proper admiration. Over the past three seasons, Gray has featured a K% of 27 or better and a xFIP no higher than 3.66 while working in a prime hitter’s park. There are some durability concerns, and Gray’s velocity slipped a bit last season, but he is well worth any perceived risk at the current ADP.

Jake Cronenworth (118): “He hits well to all fields and can really build well on what he did last year. I expect him to only continue to get better. He is a real student of the game. He sits in his apartment studying the numbers.”

Engel’s Insider Angles: Cronenworth is a solid pick where he is being drafted, as he has a sound approach at the plate and should supply a quality batting average and some power. His 14 percent strikeout rate from 2021 should provide comfort that he will continue to be a solid hitter, and you naturally have to like his multi-positional eligibility. Cronenworth had a .266 average last season, but his xBA was .280. He will be a “glue guy” on fantasy rosters in 2022.

 



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy baseball app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, sleepers, prospects & more. All free!



More Fantasy Baseball Advice




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

Connor McDavid

Totals Three Points In Game 3 Win
Johnathan Kovacevic

Exits Early Friday
Seth Lugo

Tosses Eight Shutout Innings In Friday's Win Over Houston
Sam Montembeault

Suffers Lower-Body Injury Friday
Logan Thompson

Exits Loss With Injury
Cristopher Sánchez

Cristopher Sanchez Will Throw A Bullpen On Sunday
Brandon Hagel

Suspended For Game 3
Griffin Conine

To Have Shoulder Surgery On Tuesday
Luke Keaschall

Twins Prospect Luke Keaschall Suffers Broken Forearm
Logan Gilbert

Leaves Friday's Start With Forearm Tightness

Vikings Select Tai Felton To Finish Day 2

Seahawks Select Quarterback Jalen Milroe With The 92nd Pick Overall

Browns Select Dillon Gabriel 94th Overall

Packers Pick Savion Williams At No. 87 overall

Steelers Snag Kaleb Johnson In Round 3

Broncos Select Wide Receiver Pat Bryant With The 74th Overall Pick

Texans Select Jaylin Noel With 79th Pick

Lions Select Wide Receiver Isaac TeSlaa With The 70th Overall Pick
Jack Leiter

To Start On Sunday

Patriots Add Wide Receiver Kyle Williams In Round 3

Browns Draft Harold Fannin Jr. With 67th Pick
Garrett Mitchell

Makes Early Exit
Luke Keaschall

Removed Early On Friday
Blake Snell

Likely Avoids Major Injury
Cole Ragans

Dealing With Mild Groin Strain

Broncos Add RJ Harvey To Backfield With 60th Pick

Raiders Select Jack Bech With 58th Pick

Chargers Add Wide Receiver Tre Harris In Round 2
Detroit Lions

Lions Acquire 57th Pick From Broncos

Seahawks Draft Elijah Arroyo 50th Overall
Carolina Panthers

Panthers Acquire 51st Pick From Broncos
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Snag Will Johnson At No. 47

Jets Add A Pass-Catcher With Mason Taylor At No. 42

Rams Select Terrance Ferguson With 46th Pick
Houston Texans

Texans Acquire 48th Pick From Raiders, Draft Aireontae Ersery

Saints Snag Tyler Shough At No. 40
Brenton Doyle

Out For Personal Reasons On Friday
Brandin Podziemski

Not On Injury Report For Game 3
Jimmy Butler III

Warriors Optimistic About Jimmy Butler III Playing Saturday
Jae'Sean Tate

To Remain Out Saturday
Jock Landale

Unavailable For Game 3
Terry Rozier

Out On Saturday
Jrue Holiday

Ruled Out For Friday Night's Game 3 Against Orlando
Kevin Love

To Miss Saturday's Game
Jaylen Brown

Available For Friday Night's Game 3 Against Magic
Gary Payton II

Iffy For Saturday's Action
Jayson Tatum

Officially Available On Friday For Game 3 Against Magic
Will Smith

Back From Injury On Friday
Luke Kennard

Questionable For Game 4 On Saturday
Darius Garland

Listed As Questionable For Game 3
Ja Morant

To Miss Game 4 On Saturday
Rui Hachimura

Available For Game 3 In Minnesota
Aaron Ekblad

Available To Return Saturday
Erik Swanson

Ryan Burr Progressing
Daulton Varsho

To Return On Tuesday At The Latest
Max Scherzer

Takes Positive Step On Friday
Aleksander Barkov

Questionable For Saturday
Gabriel Landeskog

Set For Larger Role In Game 4
Calvin Pickard

To Start Game 3 For Oilers
Randy Arozarena

Resting For First Time This Year
Jonas Siegenthaler

To Play Limited Minutes In Game 3
MLB

Red Sox-Guardians Game Postponed On Friday
Luke Hughes

Remains Out On Friday
MLB

Tigers-Orioles Postponed On Friday
Patrik Laine

A Game-Time Decision Friday
Yainer Diaz

Out On Friday Against Royals
Iván Herrera

Ivan Herrera Hopes To Start Rehab Assignment Next Week
Salvador Perez

Sitting Out For First Time This Season
Jaylen Brown

Questionable For Game 3 On Friday
Jimmy Butler III

Could Miss Game 3 On Saturday
Carlos Prates

Looks To Remain Undefeated In The UFC
Ian Machado Garry

Set For UFC Kansas City Main Event
Cade Cunningham

Collects Double-Double In Loss
Jalen Brunson

Drops 30 Points In Game 3
Karl-Anthony Towns

Leads All Scorers In Game 3 Victory
Zhang Mingyang

Scheduled For Co-Main Event
Anthony Smith

Set For His Final UFC Bout
David Onama

Set For Featherweight Bout
Giga Chikadze

Looks To Bounce Back
Abus Magomedov

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Michel Pereira

Returns To Action At UFC Kansas City
Nicolas Dalby

An Underdog At UFC Kansas City
Randy Brown

A Favorite At UFC Kansas City
Andre Muniz

Set To Open Up UFC Kansas City Main Card
Ikram Aliskerov

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Sergei Bobrovsky

Shuts Out Lightning In Game 2
Cam Fowler

Finishes Thursday's Win With Five Points
Robert Thomas

Posts Four Assists In Game 3 Win
Pavel Buchnevich

Celebrates Hat Trick During Four-Point Performance
Dylan DeMelo

Battling An Illness
Marcus Johansson

Exits Early Thursday
Aleksander Barkov

Hurt In Game 2
Jrue Holiday

Tagged As Questionable For Friday
Jayson Tatum

Likely Out Again On Friday
Anthony Cirelli

Good To Go Thursday
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Looks To Bounce Back In Game 2
Cam Davis

Looking For Better Fortunes At TPC Louisiana
Adam Svensson

Making Third Apperence At Zurich Classic
Max Greyserman

Aiming For Similar Success At TPC Louisiana
Lee Hodges

A High-Upside Player In New Orleans
PGA

Nico Echavarria Looks To Ride Off Of Elite Putting In New Orleans
Gary Woodland

A Player Worth Watching In New Orleans
Max McGreevy

Returns To The Zurich Classic Of New Orleans
Rasmus Hojgaard

In Search Of Consistency Ahead Of Zurich Classic
Sam Stevens

A Boom-Or-Bust Candidate In New Orleans
Nicolai Hojgaard

Looking To Turn Season Around At Zurich Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Looks To Sway A Hot Putter In Teams Favor At Zurich Classic
Akshay Bhatia

Looking To Bounce Back At TPC Louisiana
Carson Young

Looks To Turn Things Around At TPC Louisiana
Erik Van Rooyen

Looking For Momentum In Louisiana
Andrew Novak

Making Start At TPC Louisiana After Near Miss At Harbour Town
Ben Griffin

Making Third Career Start At Zurich Classic
Taylor Moore

Competing With A New Teammate In New Orleans
Wyndham Clark

Making Return To New Orleans
Kurt Kitayama

Teeing It Up Again In New Orleans
Collin Morikawa

Back At Zurich Classic For Fifth Time
Thomas Detry

Making Third Appearance At New Orleans Team Event
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF