X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Join the Best Live Fantasy Chat Community!

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
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Youth in Revolt: Three Potential 2016 Busts

As the noble poet Flavor Flav once proclaimed, "Don't Believe the Hype!" No sport is more rife with sleepers, prospects, and future superstars than baseball. The NBA and NFL have modified their draft rules to force future athletes to at least pretend to get a college education. MLB still has no problem plucking kids straight out of high school. Of course, half of these 18-year-old "phenoms" don't pan out and some don't ever sniff the inside of a Major League clubhouse. Of those who do, the hype surrounding them can get out of hand before they've even played an inning in the bigs. Nobody can predict how a rookie will adapt to Major League life, so it's always advisable to proceed cautiously when considering rookies in a standard re-draft league. Then there are those managers who pick every prospect under the sun so when one pans out, they can say "I called it!" despite finishing 10th place after the rest of their team fizzles.

Here are three players that seem to be over-hyped this season. Just to be clear, I am not saying to avoid these players or that they won't have fantasy-relevant seasons. The point, as always, is all about value. These hot prospects need to be drafted according to the production they will actually deliver this year, not just potential. Remember, for every Carlos Correa there is a Jorge Soler. Not to say Soler won't turn out to be an star, but many drafted him last year expecting big things. Most owners may not be too hot on him now, especially since he doesn't seem to have a starting job at this point. With that said, first on this list is...

Editor's note: Don't forget to check out our fantasy baseball rankings assistant. We recently launched this handy new rankings tool - you can easily filter, sort, and export all sorts of rankings for mixed leagues, AL/NL only, top prospects, dynasty formats, keeper values and more! It's all in one place, and all free.

 

Kyle Schwarber

Prior to the 2015 season, it seemed like every other player on the Prospects to Watch list was a Cub. Kris Bryant worked out pretty well and Addison Russell had a decent debut. The jury is still out on Javier Baez and Jorge Soler. The most pleasant surprise of the group was Schwarber though. In 232 at-bats, Schwarber crushed 16 HR and 43 RBI, including five post-season homers. In Wrigley, that's enough to birth a new legend (seeing as how rare post-season success is).

It's fun to extrapolate those stats and project a 30/80 line for someone at the catcher position, which then leads to extreme foaming at the mouth by fantasy pundits. The reality is that he will now have to prove himself over a full season with higher expectations and will spend most of his time adjusting to left field. The catcher eligibility makes him a valuable commodity for sure, but taking him in the 3rd round is insane. To draft him ahead of Justin Upton, Adam Jones or George Springer is taking a big leap of faith. Upton and Jones are proven commodities that contribute in multiple categories, not just power. Springer has the chance to hit as many HR as Schwarber, plus contribute in steals with a higher average. He definitely warrants top 5 catcher status because of the lack of depth at the position, but let someone else overpay for the hype. There's bound to be at least one overzealous Cub fan in your league.

 

A.J. Reed

The Astros are everybody's darling now, having paid their dues toiling at or near the bottom of their division for six consecutive losing seasons before last year's Wild Card berth. The youths have finally arrived to lead Houston to the upper echelon of the American League. Correa, Keuchel, Springer, McCullers - bonafide budding stars. So AJ Reed is next in line, right? Errr... maybe?

The talent is there and it would seem the opportunity is too. Jon Singleton is doing everything in his power to force the Astros to cut him. As of this writing, he is hitting a whopping .146 in spring training with 16 strikeouts in 44 plate appearances. After finishing the previous two seasons under the Mendoza line with the 'stros, it's now painfully obvious his time is done. Their other options are Matt Duffy (the Houston one) and Marwin Gonzalez, both of whom project better as utility guys than future stars. Tyler White is threatening to take the job by default, but he is unproven as well. Enter AJ Reed, 2nd round pick from 2014 who put up monster numbers in the minors last year. He should run away with this job, right? Errr... maybe?

Reed is the Astros first baseman of the future, but in a re-draft league the question is whether that future starts now (but wouldn't that make it the present?) He is being given every chance to win the job but is only at .250 with one homer this spring. Also consider that he only has 205 at-bats above single-A ball in his brief career. The Astros are already contenders without having to rush another prospect up, so don't be surprised if they give him a little more seasoning before handing the job over. Consider Reed in keeper leagues only for now until you see proof that he's staying up with the big club.

 

Trevor Story

The biggest "if" of them all rests with Story. By all accounts he has the talent to be a 20/20 hitter who plays SS and hits in Coors Field. What's not to like? The problem here is nobody would be talking about Story if Jose Reyes wasn't sitting at home on paid leave waiting for due process to take its course. In fact, Reyes is scheduled to appear in court on April 4, the same day the Rockies play their home opener. It's entirely possible Reyes doesn't face any suspension time and joins the top of the Rockies lineup in April once he's deemed game-ready. The bottom line is that Jose Reyes is one of the top talents in that lineup and will be starting as long as is capable of taking the field.

If Reyes does face a lengthy suspension, then Story becomes fantasy-relevant. After this season or possibly at the trade deadline, the Rockies could look to move him if they're out of contention. Monitor this situation closely and be ready to pounce on Story if he's available on the waiver wire. Until then, don't slot him as your starting shortstop just yet, as you might be left scrounging for free agents once Reyes take over the position. It is a nice Story though. (I couldn't resist...)

 

MLB & Fantasy Baseball Chat Room




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

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

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

NFL13 mins ago

Cowboys Pick Up Micah Parsons' Fifth-Year Option
Ezekiel Elliott26 mins ago

Cowboys Meeting With Ezekiel Elliott
Cincinnati Bengals32 mins ago

Trey Hendrickson Requests A Trade From Bengals
Carlos Correa1 hour ago

Could Return Soon
Kevin Kiermaier1 hour ago

Placed On 10-Day Injured List
Framber Valdez1 hour ago

Expected To Start This Weekend
Nic Claxton2 hours ago

Nicolas Claxton The "No. 1 Priority" For Nets In Offseason
Cal Raleigh2 hours ago

To Miss Wednesday's Game
Grayson Allen2 hours ago

Not Ruled Out For Game 3
Nikola Jovic2 hours ago

Available For Game 2
Ryan Lomberg3 hours ago

Could Be Back For Game 3
Cam Talbot3 hours ago

Starts Game 2 For Kings
Logan Thompson3 hours ago

Heads Out For Another Win Wednesday
Jake Oettinger3 hours ago

Tries To Bounce Back Wednesday
Nolan Jones3 hours ago

Not Playing Wednesday
Jani Hakanpaa3 hours ago

Remains Out On Wednesday
Tyler Myers3 hours ago

Battling The Flu
Michael Toglia3 hours ago

Rockies Recall Hunter Goodman, Option Michael Toglia
Lane Thomas4 hours ago

Dealing With Grade 2 Knee Sprain
Addison Barger4 hours ago

Being Called Up By Blue Jays
Michael Penix Jr.4 hours ago

Could Be Among Top-Four Quarterbacks Selected
Gavin Williams4 hours ago

Shut Down For A Week
J.D. Martinez4 hours ago

Expected To Make Season Debut Friday
Lane Thomas4 hours ago

Nationals Put Lane Thomas On Injured List
Jared Goff4 hours ago

No New Deal “Imminent” For Jared Goff
Blake Snell4 hours ago

Strain Considered Moderate
Pete Crow-Armstrong4 hours ago

Called Up By Cubs
Cody Bellinger5 hours ago

Heads To Injured List With Rib Fracture
Heston Kjerstad5 hours ago

Sitting Against Left-Hander
Ryan Mountcastle5 hours ago

Back In Orioles Lineup
J.J. McCarthy6 hours ago

Broncos Interested In J.J. McCarthy
Rafael Devers6 hours ago

Officially Returning On Wednesday
Brayan Bello6 hours ago

Hits 15-Day Injured List
Detroit Lions6 hours ago

Penei Sewell Becomes Highest-Paid Offensive Lineman
Justin Fields6 hours ago

Steelers Not Expected To Pick Up Justin Fields' Fifth-Year Option
Jackson Holliday6 hours ago

Sitting Versus Lefty Again
Rashod Bateman6 hours ago

Ravens Sign Rashod Bateman To Contract Extension
Ja'Marr Chase6 hours ago

Bengals Exercise Ja'Marr Chase's Fifth-Year Option
Amon-Ra St. Brown7 hours ago

Lions Agree To Four-Year Extension With Amon-Ra St. Brown
Nicolas Hague7 hours ago

Out For Vegas On Wednesday
James van Riemsdyk7 hours ago

To Make Series Debut Wednesday
Sam Bennett7 hours ago

To Miss Significant Time
William Nylander7 hours ago

Looking Unlikely For Game 3
Brett Pesce7 hours ago

Likely Out For Remainder Of First Round
Thatcher Demko7 hours ago

Listed As Week-To-Week
Blake Snell7 hours ago

Placed On 15-Day Injured List
Ilya Sorokin7 hours ago

To Start Game 3
Dylan Crews7 hours ago

Dealing With Minor Issue
Cale Makar10 hours ago

Registers Two Assists In Game 2
Tom Wilson10 hours ago

Notches Two Points In Tuesday's Loss
Alexis Lafrenière10 hours ago

Alexis Lafreniere Collects Two Assists In Game 2 Victory
Filip Forsberg11 hours ago

Leads The Charge As Nashville Ties Series
Victor Hedman11 hours ago

Posts Two Assists In Game 2
Carter Verhaeghe11 hours ago

Hits Overtime Winner In Game 2
Sam Bennett11 hours ago

Sustains An Upper-Body Injury In Game 2
James Harden11 hours ago

Settles For 22 Points In Game 2
Luka Doncic11 hours ago

Leads All Scorers With 32 Points In Game 2
Damian Lillard11 hours ago

Scores 34 Points In Losing Effort
Tyrese Haliburton12 hours ago

Collects A Double-Double In Game 2 Win
Pascal Siakam12 hours ago

In Fantastic Form Once Again Versus Milwaukee
Devin Booker12 hours ago

Leads Suns With 20 Points In Game 2
Anthony Edwards12 hours ago

Struggles In Game 2
Daniel Gafford21 hours ago

Returns To Game 2
Karl-Anthony Towns21 hours ago

Has A Rough Night On Tuesday
Jaden McDaniels22 hours ago

Erupts In Game 2
Daniel Gafford22 hours ago

Questionable To Return To Game 2
Luke Kornet22 hours ago

Out Again For Game 2
Grayson Allen23 hours ago

Won't Return To Tuesday's Game
Kawhi Leonard23 hours ago

Returns To Clippers Lineup
Grayson Allen1 day ago

Ready To Go Tuesday
Zion Williamson1 day ago

Confident Of Returning In Playoffs
Terry Rozier1 day ago

Ruled Out For Game 2
Giannis Antetokounmpo1 day ago

To Remain Out On Tuesday
Andrew Peeke1 day ago

Considered Week-To-Week
Brandon Aiyuk1 day ago

Trade Remains "Very Much In Play"
Denver Broncos1 day ago

Broncos Pick Up Fifth-Year Option On Patrick Surtain II
New England Patriots1 day ago

Patriots Haven't Received "Serious" Offers For No. 3 Pick
Kadarius Toney1 day ago

Still In Chiefs' Plans
Jake Browning1 day ago

Bengals Re-Sign Jake Browning
Brandon Aiyuk2 days ago

49ers Have Received Calls Regarding Brandon Aiyuk
Dak Prescott2 days ago

Not Trying To Be Highest-Paid Player
Zach Wilson2 days ago

Broncos Acquiring Zach Wilson From Jets
Matt Ryan2 days ago

Officially Retires From NFL
Cincinnati Bengals2 days ago

Sam Hubbard Recovering From Ankle Surgery
Tyler Reddick2 days ago

Survives At Talladega For First Win Of 2024
Brad Keselowski2 days ago

Finishes Second At Talladega After Last-Lap Wreck
Anthony Alfredo2 days ago

Gets Best Finish For Beard Motorsports Since 2022
Todd Gilliland2 days ago

One Of The Strongest At Talladega
NASCAR2 days ago

Bubba Wallace Finishes 36th At Talladega Superspeedway
Kyle Larson3 days ago

Fails To Deliver Value In DFS At Talladega
NASCAR3 days ago

Ricky Stenhouse Jr. Finishes Fourth At Talladega
Noah Gragson3 days ago

Surprisingly The Most Consistent Driver At Talladega
Shane Van Gisbergen3 days ago

Shane van Gisbergen Acquits Himself Nicely In Drafting Debut
Michael McDowell3 days ago

Ends Talladega Wrecked From The Lead
Alex Bowman3 days ago

Quietly Captures Top-Five Finish At Talladega
Daniel Hemric3 days ago

Surges To Ninth-Place Result At Talladega
Harrison Burton3 days ago

Squeezes Into Top 10 At Talladega
NASCAR3 days ago

Bubba Wallace Will Start 14th For the GEICO 500
Tyler Reddick3 days ago

Avoid Rostering Tyler Reddick At Talladega?
John Hunter Nemechek3 days ago

Should DFS Players Roster John Hunter Nemechek At Talladega?
Joey Logano3 days ago

Expect Joey Logano To Compete For The Win At Talladega
Denny Hamlin3 days ago

Is Denny Hamlin Recommended For Talladega?
Justin Haley3 days ago

Is A Top DFS Value At Talladega
William Byron3 days ago

Is One Of The Top Favorites To Win Talladega
Christopher Bell3 days ago

Is Best Suited As A Tournament Play At Talladega
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 

2024 NFL Mock Draft Round 1 - Final Predictions from All 32 Teams

Alright, folks, NFL Draft week is finally here: that magical time when every fan can dare to dream again! If you've been reading some of these mocks during the season, you know what a ride it's been and I sincerely appreciate any of you who've been following along. With the first big wave of NFL... Read More


Rome Odunze - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

Coach Knows Ball: Rome Odunze NFL Draft Film Breakdown of Washington WR

Welcome to Coach Knows Ball, an NFL Draft series analyzing the top prospects in the 2024 class. I'm a college football coach with nine years of NCAA experience and have been scouting NFL Draft prospects for over 15 years. This series will give a deep dive into the film of some of the top players... Read More


Jordan Travis - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

2024 NFL Draft Injury News - Updates For Jonathon Brooks, Jordan Travis, Cooper DeJean, Kool-Aid McKinstry

The 2024 NFL Draft is here! It's an exciting time for NFL fans and prospects alike, but unfortunately, there are a handful of players who are battling injury concerns before their professional careers even begin. Some injuries will affect a player's draft stock, so it's worth glancing over the latest injury news regarding rising rookies.... Read More


Rome Odunze - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

Blockbuster Trade Ideas for the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft is right around the corner, and the rumor mill is heating up. While the NFL Draft is full of chaos and excitement without trade action, everyone loves to see a blockbuster deal made. A few expected blockbuster deals are getting thrown around on social media, headlined by the Minnesota Vikings trading... Read More


Caleb Williams - Fantasy Football Rankings, College FB, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers

Brandon Murchison's 2024 First-Round NFL Mock Draft

In the realm of fantasy football, anticipation and strategy reach a fever pitch as the NFL Draft approaches. Every selection, every pick holds the potential to reshape not only the fortunes of real-life franchises but also the fantasy landscape for millions of enthusiasts. As the curtain rises on this year's first-round NFL Mock Draft, fantasy managers... Read More


Marvin Harrison Jr. - Fantasy Football Rankings, College FB, WR, NFL Draft Sleepers

2024 NFL Draft - Pro Player Comparisons for the Top 12 Fantasy Football Rookies

Rookie fever is nearing its peak, and in just a few days, we'll know with full certainty where these prospects will be playing their games on Sundays. In turn, fantasy football gamers will be poring over player tapes, stats, and metrics like "Oops, I forgot to study, and my final is tomorrow" for upcoming rookie... Read More


Adonai Mitchell - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Top 100 NFL Draft Prospects (Final)

With the NFL Draft just a day away, it’s time to submit my final rankings for this class. Below, you will find the top-100 prospects on my board for 2024. There will be some changes from last month, as well as some surprises. Feel free to criticize my choices and views on the platform formerly... Read More


Brock Bowers - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers, NCAA College Football, Prospects

2024 NFL Draft - Overvalued Prospects Who Could Slip on Draft Night

A few weeks ago, I was watching the 2007 NFL Draft. It was on the NFL's Pluto TV channel and I didn't have anything else to do, so I figured I'd turn it on. I was struck by two things. First, it's wild how far technology has come since 2007. They kept advertising that you... Read More


Bo Nix - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

2024 NFL Mock Draft - Round 2 and 3 Final Predictions

Can you feel it? We're just over one day away from the 2024 NFL Draft, folks! Summer's breeze is almost here as well, but not before we dive deep into draft season. With the initial wave of free agency settling down, the roster blueprints for our 32 teams are coming into sharp focus. Hunting for... Read More


Tyler Boyd - Fantasy Football Rankings, NFL Injury News, DFS Lineup Picks

Is Tyler Boyd a Free Agent? Top Landing Spots for Boyd This Offseason

For eight seasons, Cincinnati was Tyler Boyd’s home. He amassed 6,000 receiving yards on 513 receptions and scored 31 touchdowns during his time with the Bengals. Boyd was a trusted option for quarterback Joe Burrow and was great as the team’s primary slot receiver. Unfortunately, the club opted not to re-sign him this offseason. After... Read More


Caleb Williams - Fantasy Football Rankings, College FB, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers

2024 NFL Draft - Potential Busts In First-Round Fantasy Football Rookie Drafts

The fantasy football offseason is an interesting time for dynasty players. With the combine behind us and the NFL Draft just ahead, we have collected nearly every bit of information we need aside from landing spots. This year's class brings in a new wave of gifted athletes primed to impact the NFL and our fantasy... Read More


Bo Nix - College Football Rankings, NCAA CFB DFS Lineup Picks

2024 NFL Draft: Updated Draft Stocks For Bo Nix, Michael Penix Jr. - Will They Be First-Round Picks?

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. are being compared to each other ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft, and it makes sense considering their similar collegiate career paths. Both signal-callers struggled early in their career at different schools but turned it around and blossomed into stars in the Pac-12. However, projecting... Read More


Jaylen Wright - Fantasy Football Rankings, College FB, RB, NFL Draft Sleepers

Dynasty Primer #2: How and When to Rebuild Your Fantasy Football Dynasty League Team

Several weeks ago, we published the first part of my Dynasty Primer series. That article delves into how dynasty managers can and should value dynasty draft picks, especially rookie-only picks. The aim is to help fans understand how to value dynasty draft picks, independent of player valuations or analyst opinions on the players you might... Read More