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Welcome back RotoBallers to my ongoing series about NFBC late-round targets - today we take a look at shortstops. We are entering February and that means Fantasy Baseball draft season is ramping up. Sure, we do not know if or when the MLB season will start, but that will not stop us die-hard fantasy players! Some players have been researching for a few months, while some players are just now getting their first looks at what the 2022 landscape may look like.
In previous years, many players would participate in mock drafts to get their feel for the player pool; in recent years, that has changed with Best Ball and Draft and Hold drafts (DnH). Things have also changed quite a bit with the growth of the NFBC platform. The NFBC runs some of the best contests for fantasy baseball players and has different price points for your average fans and higher stake players.
The beauty of the best ball and DnH drafts is no weekly FAAB/waiver wire process. The main difference between the two formats is that the best ball is just drafting and walking away while DnH is still drafting but still setting your weekly lineups. They are similar to mock drafts; there is not much left to do after the draft, but a little skin in the game keeps the players drafting focused and on the up and up.
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NFBC Draft and Hold Strategy
For the next few weeks leading up to the season, I will be writing a series of articles looking for draft values. For this time of the year, I will be focusing on DnH leagues, and I will go over some later-round targets at each position. In the NFBC, there are NFBC 50’s, which are 12-team leagues, and Draft Champions (DC) which are 15-team leagues. The ADP used in these articles will be for the DC’s. You can find the ADP for all formats on the NFBC website.
The shortstop position is very deep, but grabbing two studs could still be an intelligent strategy in a team build. Unfortunately, much depth is drafted earlier than expected, and the later picks are not game-changers like the early ones. The good thing about the shortstop position is that there are many potential starters, with regular at-bats later in drafts.
Some of these later-round values are boring veterans that will play nearly every day. At-bats are kind and are harder and harder to find later in drafts. Some of these targets are players looking to bounce back or strong side platoon players that should get you the stats you need as a deep value. Some values will also be young players who do not have a role with the team yet but could be an excellent late-season addition to your team by the season’s end. Let’s look at some of the late-round shortstop values I target in DnH drafts.
Bryson Stott, Philadelphia Phillies
NFBC ADP: 413
Stott is a risk as he is a prospect that may not even see the big leagues. However, he had a monster 2021 season in the minor leagues, jumping from High-A to Double-A and finishing in Triple-A. Over those 112 games, he hit .299 with 16 home runs and ten stolen bases. He also walked 65 times on his way to a .390 OBP. Stott showcased solid skills moving through the minors, which continued in the Arizona Fall League. In the AFL, he had ten extra-base hits with a .318 batting average over 119 plate appearances.
The 24-year-old Stott will likely start the season in Triple-A. If Didi Gregorius or Alec Bohm struggle, we could see Stott in the bigs at some point. There are paths to Stott joining the team, and if he does, he could be a nice late-round dart with his plate discipline, power, and speed. At the same time, it is a bit risky as he may not see much playing time at all, and he is more of a play in 2023 drafts.
Kyle Farmer, Cincinnatti Reds
NFBC ADP: 475
Farmer is coming off a strong 2021 season where he played in 147 games where he racked up 529 plate appearances. He hit .263 with 16 home runs and threw in a couple of stolen bases. He played all over the diamond, but most of his action was at shortstop, especially when the Eugenio Suarez shortstop experience was over. Farmer took the lead shortstop around May 7 and hit his 15 home runs with a .274 average over those 468 plate appearances.
Heading into 2022, Farmer should be the primary shortstop once again for the Reds. Jose Barrero is still looming in the minors and may get his chance at some point, but for now, it is Farmer's job to run away with. The ability to draft a starting shortstop that should get over 450 or even 500 plate appearances after pick 400 is outstanding. He is one of a few late-round shortstop targets I have been heavily targeting. The others... are coming right up.
Elvis Andrus, Oakland Athletics
NFBC ADP: 508
If we focus on playing time, look no further than Andrus. He has played in at least 145 games in all but one full season since 2009. In addition, Andrus has had at least 541 plate appearances in all but one full season since 2009. His bat is not what it once was, but his glove still keeps him on the field.
Last season for the A's, he hit .243 with the three home runs and chipped in 12 stolen bases. Outside of one monster season in 2019, where he hit 20 home runs, Andrus is usually a single-digit home run asset. However, he keeps his fantasy relevance even without the power as he runs wild. From 2009 to 2019, Andrus stole 20 or more bases in all but one season. Then he stole 12 last season, showcasing the speed is still around.
He should still play nearly every day in 2022 and is projected to hit second behind Tony Kemp, who was mentioned in the Second Base Late Round Targets. If Andrus does hit second, he should see another solid season of plate appearances, run into double-digit steals, and bring a great value later in DnH as your third or even fourth shortstop.
Alcides Escobar, Washington Nationals
NFBC ADP: 569
Escobar is still in play for you if you are still looking for a shortstop that should get regular at-bats. Escobar joined the Nats on July 3rd and became the everyday shortstop. He played in 75 games and racked up 349 at-bats as he hit near the top of the order. The downside to Escobar, even though he gets the playing time, he does not put up significant stats. Over those 75 games, he only hit four home runs and stole three bases. We would love the power or the speed to be more, but he did supply 53 runs and a .288 batting average which is not too shabby.
Heading into 2022, Escobar is still supposed to be the starting shortstop for the Nats. He may not hit towards the top of the order, which would be a downer, but he should still be playing regularly. If Escobar is out there nearly every day, he should still reach base at a nice rate, providing a nice batting average help while scoring runs and maybe throwing in some steals. You could do a lot worse with a late-round shortstop than Escobar, so grab him as your third or fourth option.
Taylor Walls, Tampa Bay Rays
NFBC ADP: 584
Walls has been a speed machine in the minors with solid on-base skills thrown on top. Many were aggressive on Walls during last season's FAAB periods, and it was not as great as many wished. He played in only 54 games and hit .211 with one home run and four stolen bases. In his 52 games in Triple-A, he hit eight home runs and stole ten bases.
Walls is supposed to start the season on the Rays roster and could be a platoon player, similar to Joey Wendle, who is now with the Marlins. Walls could be a great late target that supplies nice steals upside, and if he runs into some nice playing time, he could be a significant value on your roster. He fits excellent in NFBC for the bi-weekly hitter changes if the right matchups are in play for the platoon.
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