Rick Lucks' 10 Bold Predictions for 2016
While I like the idea for this series, it has become a trend to blame fellow RotoBaller Kyle Bishop for making us do it. So thanks a bunch, Kyle, for making me do something I wanted to do anyway. Usually, I identify whether specific baseball players are champs or chumps. This time, we'll find out […]
2016 Fantasy Baseball Tiered Rankings: Relief Pitchers (March)
It's only fitting that we close out the March rankings with the closers. Because these "firemen" are often on the hot seat, the value of a closer can change more quickly than any other position. While it is beyond the scope of this article, it is important to monitor the closer handcuffs as the season […]
2016 Fantasy Baseball Tiered Rankings: Starting Pitchers, Part 1 (March)
Our starting pitching rankings will be split into two parts. Today's edition will examine only the top five tiers of starters, as determined by our staff's composite rankings (which differ a bit from my own evaluations where noted). Using the composite rankings to guide discussion helps to highlight personal preferences while also providing a more balanced view of […]
2016 Fantasy Baseball Tiered Rankings: Outfield, Part 2 (March)
Smoothly transitioning from yesterday's top four tiers to today's best of the rest, let's start my overvalued/undervalued list with a player who recently snuck up from tier 5 to tier 4 and thus snuck his way into this column. Editor's note: Be sure to also check out our 2016 fantasy baseball rankings dashboard. It's already loaded up […]
Tom Bellucco's 10 Bold Predictions for 2016
Fellow writer Kyle Bishop had a great idea for us "experts" to come up with a plethora of bold predictions. So far we've see the 10 bold predictions from Kyle and Max. Now it's my turn. I like to think I did fairly well on my more conservative predictions last year (believing in the Gerrit Cole, […]
2016 Fantasy Baseball Tiered Rankings: Outfield, Part 1 (March)
This is the fourth and final update to our outfield staff rankings. Once again, I was joined by colleagues Kyle Bishop, Bill Dubiel, Brad Johnson, Nick Mariano, Max Petrie, and Harris Yudin. In case you missed them, you can see our updated March tiered rankings and analysis breaking down our thoughts for catcher, first base, […]
2016 Fantasy Baseball Tiered Third Base Rankings (March)
Oh yeah, you know you love yourself some hot corner action. Third base is one of those premier power spots where you know your team can’t be slouching. If you don't know us by now, the seven rankers are Brad Johnson, Kyle Bishop, Max Petrie, Harris Yudin, Jeff Kahntroff, Bill Dubiel, and myself. In case […]
2016 Fantasy Baseball Tiered Shortstop Rankings (March)
Welcome to our final round of rankings. We've been guiding you throughout the offseason and it has all culminated to this. These rankings will be your guide in fantasy drafts, and while they shouldn't be seen as an end-all, be-all assessment, it's wise to have an understanding of where the market values the players you […]
2016 Fantasy Baseball Tiered Rankings: Second Base (March)
It seems like only yesterday that we kicked off our preseason coverage back in December with the first round of our RotoBaller staff rankings. Just kidding – it feels like an eternity whenever we’re waiting for baseball to return. But the weather is warming, the days are getting longer, and spring training is in full […]
Max Petrie's 10 Bold Predictions for 2016
Welcome to round two of our Bold Predictions segment. If anyone asks, Kyle bullied me into doing this. But in all seriousness, the best hitter on a team bats second, so I'm honored to be included. In this edition I'll be highlighting the hitters and pitchers I believe have the best chance to make crazy […]
2016 Fantasy Baseball Tiered First Base Rankings (March)
Many fantasy baseball drafts have already been held, and there are more on the way. I finally have a drafted team to look over every single day and check for injuries (so far, so good), so all is right in the world. But for those of you who have yet to draft, we've got the rankings and […]
2016 Fantasy Baseball Tiered Catcher Rankings (March)
Welcome to our final round of rankings. We've been guiding you throughout the offseason and it's all culminated to this. These rankings will be your guide in fantasy drafts, and while they shouldn't be seen as an end-all, be-all assessment, it's wise to have an understanding of where the market values the players you seek. […]
Marcell Ozuna (OF, MIA) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers
BALLER MOVE: Target ~275 CURRENT ADP: 298 ANALYSIS: Marcell Ozuna had an underwhelming season in 2015, but all signs point to him bouncing back to his 2014 form. At this time last year, he was one of the most desirable young center fielders in the game. Following a very impressive 2014, during which he slashed .269/.317/.455 with […]
2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values: J.T. Realmuto
In a stadium seemingly filled with more features and attractions than fans, a season low 14,958 Miami faithful scattered around Marlins Park. September baseball had arrived yet October would once again host a postseason without the Miami Marlins; a team tiptoeing around promise. J.T. Realmuto stepped up to the plate in the fourth inning against […]
Industry Mock Draft Reactions: Reaches of the Draft
Now we find ourselves with the final question to be answered regarding the industry mock draft that we hosted last Thursday. Now we’re looking at those go-go-gadget picks, asking everyone who they thought the reach of the draft was. As is tradition, I’ll be following everyone’s thoughts with a brief commentary of my own because […]
2016 Outfield Prospects and Dynasty Rankings
This is an outfield prospects omnibus, a one stop clearinghouse for all of the profiles I created in the last month. With this post finished, I'll have just enough time to whip through starting pitching before we're too deep into dynasty draft season. You can also read about catchers, first base, second base, shortstop, and third base. Mostly, […]
Industry Mock Draft Reactions: Most Regrettable Pick?
Back again with more insight into the industry mock draft that took place last Thursday. This time we’re looking at the picks that each of us wished we could give the ol’ Men in Black memory wipe to everyone else. Again, I’ll be following everyone’s thoughts with a brief commentary of my own because it’s […]
Wei-Yin Chen (SP, MIA) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers
BALLER MOVE: Target ~190 CURRENT ADP: 203 ANALYSIS: Wei-Yin Chen has quietly staked a reputation for himself as one of the league's most consistent and reliable pitchers over the past few seasons. He delivered quality starts in 21 of 31 starts in 2015 and allowed more than three earned runs on just four occasions, never […]
2016 Bust Candidates: NL Outfielders to Avoid
The wait is finally over – spring training is in full swing. And what better way to celebrate the advent of draft season than to profile potential breakouts and busts? If you've been following my ongoing series, I've been taking a look at both NL and AL players who may breakout, bounce back, bust or regress in […]
Saves & Holds: NL East Bullpen Depth Chart
With the 2016 fantasy baseball season approaching, bullpen depth charts can be tricky to decipher when entering your fantasy drafts. Projections of who will be vital to their respective team and to your fantasy team will be analyzed over the course of the next two months. Below I've identified the projected NL East closers, setup men, and […]
Net Steals Leagues: Five Fantasy Baseball Busts and Avoids
I played in a net steals league a couple years back. It did not go well. In preparation for the auction draft, I foolishly assumed I could rely on standard steals projections. My plan for this particular auction was to sport a balanced attack, targeting guys with cross-category upside instead of chasing players with one major […]
2016 Fantasy Baseball Draft Values: Marcell Ozuna
Marcell Ozuna of the Miami Marlins may have had an underwhelming season in 2015, but all signs point to him bouncing back next season to his 2014 form. At this time last year, he was one of the most desirable, young center fielders in the game. With a current ADP of 286, Ozuna should definitely be given […]
2016 Outfield Prospects and Dynasty Rankings - NL East Edition
It's been awhile since I offered up the top catching prospects for dynasty leagues (also first base, second base, shortstop, and third base). With the fantasy season fast approaching, we'll spend the next few weeks blitzing through outfielders and pitchers. There is a daunting quantity of outfield prospects. Anytime you're feeling overwhelmed by a task, […]
Miami Marlins Top MLB Prospects for 2016 Dynasty Leagues
Another year, another Marlins team that just cannot do anything right. They signed a bunch of free agents to big deals one year, trade them all away the next. In spite of having bats like Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich in the middle of their lineup and pitchers like Jose Fernandez leading the rotation, the Marlins […]
Five Undervalued NL Starting Pitcher Targets for 2016 Drafts
The National League is simply loaded with elite pitching. You could miss out on most of the top ranked guys and still find yourself with an abundance of options heading into the middle rounds. Still, it's important to know what you're looking for when those later rounds approach and there are holes to fill at […]
Early Fantasy Baseball Mock Draft: The Fourth Round Pitching Run
The lineup (in draft order): Jacob Bogardus, Brad Johnson, Alex Brock, Harris Yudin, Max Petrie, Josh Leonard, Ross Williamson, Andrew Miller (from The Fantasy Fix), Nick Mariano (myself), Tom Bellucco, Brian Dunshee (also from The Fantasy Fix), and Edward Suletan. We put together a traditional 5x5 redraft 23 round mock with 2 catchers, a corner […]
Early Mock Draft 2016: Analyzing the Second Round
If you haven't read the first round analysis yet, you should definitely do that! Click that and then come right back here. I'll know. For those of you that want to view the draft board in all of it's glory, here it is: As a reminder, here's the lineup: Jacob Bogardus, Brad Johnson, Alex Brock, […]
Justin Bour (1B, MIA) - 2016 Fantasy Baseball Sleepers
TARGET: 192 (16th round in 12-team leagues) CURRENT ADP: 237 (19th round in 12-team leagues) ANALYSIS: The 2015 MLB season will be remembered for the emergence of a plethora of young talent: Kris Bryant, Carlos Correa, Francisco Lindor, Miguel Sano, Noah Syndergaard, Jung Ho Kang, Joc Pederson, Matt Duffy. We could go on. But can you name who finished […]
2016 Top Five Second Basemen Keeper Values
These rankings are derived from my 15 step formula. The Keeper Valuation Formula uses the players’ age, draft round, number of teams in the league, current stats, projected stats, games played percentage, positional value, and some secret squirrel statistical math. The product is a TRUE Keeper Value for each player. Consider the derived Values the […]
Outfield Busts and What It Means For 2016: Gomez, Puig, and Soler
Welcome to edition six of our Breakouts/Busts offseason segment. This time we'll be focusing on the outfielders who disappointed us in 2015 and likely cost a pretty penny too. Outfielders are always a tricky situation come draft day. You see the big names in the first few rounds and feel the need to procure at least one, […]