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

Clearance Sale: Late Round Fliers for Runs in 2017

Welcome, my thrifty shoppers, to the first edition of Clearance Sale. We here at RotoBaller are all about a good deal (have you seen our Draft Prep tools?!), and I am the king of good deals. Discount sales, expired goods -- I'm all about value. So to help you prepare for your drafts, we're bringing you some late round fliers to keep an eye on.

In this edition we'll start with the most important stat in baseball - runs. As Tim McCarver would say, you have to score more runs than the other team to win. We will break our search down into three factors: team's offense, players position in the batting order, and expected playing time. Let's get started.

Editor's note: for even more draft prep, visit our awesome 2017 fantasy baseball rankings dashboard. It has lots of in-depth staff rankings and draft strategy columns. You will find tiered rankings for every position, 2017 impact rookie rankings, AL/NL only league ranks and lots more. Bookmark the page, and win your drafts.

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

 

Late Round Fliers For Runs in 2017

Devon Travis (2B, TOR)

Current ADP: 198

I'm going to get yelled at by numerous people for even mentioning his name. Travis has been an enigma for fantasy players, with injuries being his main culprit. In 432 AB he produced a .300/.332/.454 line with 54 runs scored, with Travis in the leadoff spot for only 43% of the time. The Blue Jays experimented in that spot extensively, even using Jose Bautista for 40 games.

That shouldn't happen in 2017. Travis is expected to enter camp as the favorite to bat leadoff for a potent Blue Jays sans Edwin Encarnacion. His OBP (.332) isn't what you'd imagine from your top spot, but when the alternative Kevin Pillar (.302) is even worse you make due. Travis has great pop (.154 ISO) and is a sleeper candidate for 20 HR if he can stay healthy. If Travis can reach 550 AB for the first time ever he should be a great candidate for 85+ runs in 2017.

Carlos Gomez (OF, TEX)

Current ADP: 204

Gomez was Jekyll and Hyde in 2016. He was a massive disappointment in Houston, slashing .210/.272/.322 until they released him for nothing. Gomez signed with the Rangers with something to prove and went on fire. In 33 games he hit .284/.362/.543 with 18 runs and 8 HR. The Rangers re-signed him and have plugged him into the leadoff spot for 2017. As you may recall, Gomez was a first-round talent as recently as 2014. At virtually zero cost, Gomez is an excellent flier for runs in a potent Rangers lineup.

Shin-Soo Choo (OF, TEX)

Current ADP: 428

Am I reading that correctly? Shin-Soo Choo, a player ranked in the top 100 in 2015, is now virtually worthless on draft day? Recency bias is real, people.

Choo, 33, had a disappointing 2016, slashing .242/.357/.399 in only 210 PA. His season included four trips to the disabled list and ended in August with a fractured forearm. Choo has declared himself physically fit and performing normal offseason workouts. Recall that Choo posted a .372 OBP with 92 runs in 2015. He's on the decline in his career but his track record makes him worth a flier at $1.

Ender Inciarte (OF, ATL)

Current ADP: 216

You heard it here first; the Braves are going to be a fun offense this year. The Braves were a sneaky good offense to finish 2016, posting a .774 OPS in the second half (third in MLB). The addition of Matt Kemp provided Freddie Freeman the first protection he has seen since Brian McCann was a Brave, but the biggest X-factor was Ender Inciarte.

Inciarte was a tale of two halves, hitting .227 with 26 runs in the first half and .341 with 59 runs in the second half. The 59 runs were tied for second in baseball with teammate Freddie Freeman. So which Inciarte is the real one? Inciarte has always held a BABIP above .300 and was injured in the first half. I'm betting he's closer to the latter. The Braves brought everyone back from 2016 and added the versatile Sean Rodriguez. Inciarte is a fantastic bet for 80+ runs with an average over .300.

Dansby Swanson (SS, ATL)

Current ADP: 183

Batting behind Inciarte will be the "rookie" Dansby Swanson. I note the rookie status because Swanson was one AB away from losing prospect eligibility in 2016. The universally ranked top-3 prospect was great in his debut, slashing .300/.362/.442 in 145 at-bats. He spent the majority of the time in the 8-hole, but coach Brian Snitker has already stated Swanson will start the year batting 2nd.

In between Inciarte and Freeman is a great spot for a young player, and he should be given all the leash he needs to succeed on a Braves team with no serious plans to contend in 2017. Swanson's hype has inflated his ADP compared to the other options here, but he's a great bet to finish in the top 10 at SS with 75+ runs.

Jarrod Dyson (OF, SEA)

Current ADP: 247

Dyson has been in the majors since 2011 and has yet to earn a full-time role. That changed this offseason as the Mariners acquired Dyson and labeled him their projected leadoff hitter for 2017. Dyson is a slap hitter with excellent speed, averaging 33 steals in the past four seasons. Keep in mind he never eclipsed 405 at-bats in any of those seasons. Now with a full-time opportunity ahead of Robinson Cano and Nelson Cruz, Dyson is going to find himself crossing the plate often if he holds the spot. He's in line to shatter his career-high of 48 runs and is a candidate for 80/40 (runs/steals).

 

More Potential Draft Values and Sleepers




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

Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Alex Bregman

Will Return to Red Sox This Weekend
Chris Sale

Braves Won't Consider Trading Chris Sale
Clarke Schmidt

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery on Friday
Nick Nash

Unlikely to Make Falcons Active Roster
Lane Johnson

in No Rush To Retire
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Blake Corum

has "Gotten His Speed Back"
Jarquez Hunter

Picking Up Rams Offense Quickly
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Kirk Cousins

Feels Misled by Falcons
Bijan Robinson

Says Falcons Have "Outlandish Goals" for the Running Game
Luther Burden III

Bears Expect Luther Burden III to be Ready for Training Camp
Cole Kmet

an Unlikely Trade Piece
Tony Pollard

Titans Hope to Balance Rushing Attack With Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears
Byron Buxton

Sitting Thursday
Quentin Johnston

Not Assured of Starting Role
Cordarrelle Patterson

on the Roster Bubble in Pittsburgh?
Shedeur Sanders

Not Assured of Roster Spot in Cleveland?
Wan'Dale Robinson

Hoping For More Downfield Opportunities
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Jordan McLaughlin

Spurs Re-Sign Jordan McLaughlin to One-Year Deal
Dylan Harper

Out Thursday, Expected to Play Saturday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Homers Twice on Wednesday
Mike Trout

Homers Twice in Win Over Rangers
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Leads Yankees to Victory
Salvador Perez

Crushes Two Homers in Win
Cleveland Browns

Greg Newsome on the Trade Block?
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Zach Tom

An Extension Candidate in Green Bay
Devin Booker

Agrees to Extension with Phoenix
Trevor Williams

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
Kyren Williams

Rams Not Willing to Pay Kyren Williams Top-Market Money?
Byron Buxton

Exits After Hit-by-Pitch, X-Rays Negative
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Playing on Wednesday
Alex Bregman

has "Really Good Chance" to Return Before All-Star Break
Christian Kirk

the No. 2 WR in Houston?
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Expected to Return on Friday
Jerome Ford

the Likely Starter for Cleveland to Begin 2025
Chig Okonkwo

"Poised" for Best Season of Career
Xavier Watts

Falcons High on Xavier Watts
Xavier Restrepo

Training With Star Wideouts
Walter Clayton Jr.

Leads Jazz to Summer League Win
Carter Bryant

Struggles in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Drops a Double-Double in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Oklahoma City Thunder

Malevy Leons Logs Impressive Summer League Outing on Tuesday
Dalton Knecht

Collects 25 Points in Lakers Summer League Win
Los Angeles Lakers

Darius Bazley Drops 27 Points in Summer League on Tuesday
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Chet Holmgren

Agrees to Rookie Max Extension
Alex Bregman

Not Returning Wednesday
Jhoan Duran

Unavailable Due to Illness
Shane McClanahan

Tosses Clean Frame in First Rehab Appearance
Jacob Wilson

Day-to-Day After HBP
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. to be Reassessed Wednesday
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Malaki Branham

Traded to Washington
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Blake Wesley

Moves to Washington
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Kelly Olynyk

on the Move Again
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Anthony Davis

Recovering From Eye Surgery
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Cal Raleigh

Continues Historic Homer Pace Tuesday
Jacob Wilson

Exits Early On Tuesday With Left Hand Contusion
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
Luis Garcia

Fans Four in Rehab Outing
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF