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

Five Deeper Sleepers at Catcher for 2017

Today’s fantasy catcher landscape leaves much to be desired after the first few guys off the board, making the idea of hitting on a deep sleeper even more intriguing. But we are here to dig deeper, and try to find some catcher draft values and sleepers for the 2017 fantasy baseball season.

Below are a handful of catcher that could be available late in drafts or even post-draft, that could give fantasy owners more than they bargained for in 2017.

Editor's note: You can find more draft values and potential sleepers in our running list all preseason long, and be sure to also check out our rankings dashboard which is loaded with lots of great analysis.

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

 

Deeper Catcher Draft Sleepers

Derek Norris, Washington Nationals - ADP: 321

If you hadn’t been paying attention to baseball since 2014, you’d wonder how Derek Norris could ever be considered a sleeper. That was the year he slashed .294/.402/.477 in the first half and made the All-Star team as a member of the Oakland A’s. But it was all downhill from the second half of 2014 on, and the fifth year backstop hit rock bottom last year with an atrocious .186/.255/328 line in 458 plate appearances with San Diego. It can’t possibly get worse, can it?

The Padres cut bait this winter and dealt Norris to the Washington Nationals, where he was expected to split time behind the dish with Jose Lobaton, before the Nats signed Matt Weiters. Now he's expected to be traded, but regardless of where he ends up, he's due for a bounceback season as long as he gets the playing time. Even with the batting average below the Mendoza line, his hard contact rate, at 34.4 percent, was better than his career average and he still managed to tie his career-high mark with 14 homers in 2016. And he’s leaving one of the league’s premier pitcher’s parks in San Diego. Sometimes when a guy has a year as bad as Norris had, a change of scenery can make a world of difference.

 

Jett Bandy, Milwaukee Brewers - ADP: 407.5

Speaking of a change of scenery, Jett Bandy is another player who was dealt this offseason, and the move could provide a nice sleeper opportunity for him. Bandy, who took over as the Angels’ main catcher midway through last season, was dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers where he will be competing for playing time with Andrew Susac and Manny Pina. The 26-year-old Bandy might be the one that ends up winning the majority of time behind the dish for the Brew Crew.

He is regarded as an excellent defender and was sixth best in MLB at throwing out would-be base-stealers, gunning down 39.6 percent of runners. He also showed some nice pop last season with eight bombs in just 231 plate appearances, and he did that while playing most games in a home ballpark that produces below-average offense. Bandy will find Miller Park much more to his liking, and if he emerges from spring training as the Brewers’ main guy at catcher, he could be worth keeping an eye on for fantasy owners.

 

Tom Murphy, Colorado Rockies - ADP: 249.7

I don’t think I could put together a list of sleepers without including a catcher on the Rockies that many people have never heard of. Tom Murphy is that catcher. Fantasy owners have to be licking their chops at the idea of Murphy getting 200+ plate appearances at Coors Field this season, as the 25-year-old catcher hit five bombs in just 49 plate appearances during his September call-up last season and flashed some big-time power in the minors. It’s a small sample size, but Murphy has put up an OPS+ of 133 in 32 games as a big leaguer, so it’s easy to dream of 20-25 homers from this guy as the Rockies’ regular catcher. But, he hasn’t earned the starting gig yet. He’ll share time with Tony Wolters, and with Wolters being a lefty hitter while Murphy bats righty, Murphy might find himself on the short side of a more traditional platoon. He could club his way into the lineup more regularly though and is certainly worth taking a flier on as a backup catcher.

 

James McCann, Detroit Tigers - ADP: 272

James McCann has a nice year for the Tigers in 2015, slashing .264/.297/.387 as a rookie, but last year he appeared to take a step back, as his OPS was down (.629) while strikeouts were up (109). The one thing he did to generate some optimism in the Motor City was hit 12 bombs in 373 plate appearances. It’s too bad that had to come at the cost of more strikeouts and a dismal .221 average and .272 OBP. However, a closer look at the power surge shows he hit the ball in the air way more than he did the year prior (40 percent fly balls in 2016 versus 27 percent in 2015), and the homer rate on fly balls was up to 12.6 percent from 8.4 percent. His hard contact rate was up as well, from 26.6 percent to 33.9 percent.

Does that mean McCann has taken his power game up a level now at age 26? It’s possible, and he’ll get the chance as Detroit’s starting catcher in 2017 to try to continue to put it all together. Many fantasy owners may stay clear of McCann at one look of that batting average and strikeout total from last year. But he’s worth taking as a backup catcher in deep leagues on the chance that power surge turns out to be sustainable.

 

Chris Herrmann, Arizona Diamondbacks - ADP: 432

Chris Herrmann took a big step forward in production last season in his first year with the Diamondbacks, posting a career high 118 OPS+. The problem is he did it in only 166 plate appearances, as his season ended prematurely when he fractured his hand. Also, a .364 BABIP has left fantasy owners skeptical. The skepticism is certainly warranted, but the Diamondbacks still non-tendered Wellington Castillo, effectively handing Herrmann the starting job going into 2017. He’ll have some veteran competition from Jeff Mathis and Chris Iannetta, but all indications are the Diamondbacks plan to go into the season with three catchers on the roster.

Herrmann also brings another element to his game that fantasy owners find appealing: versatility. In addition to handling duties behind the plate, he also got some time at both corner outfield positions and first base last season. Fantasy owners can expect Herrmann to continue to move around the diamond this season, add some extra positional eligibility and log 350+ at-bats if healthy. Increased playing time and a home ballpark that is extremely favorable to lefty hitters could keep Herrman’s numbers at closer to his 2016 level than years prior.

 

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

Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
A.J. Dillon

Not a Lock for a Roster Spot?
Chicago White Sox

Billy Carlson Goes 10th Overall to White Sox
Cincinnati Reds

Steele Hall Selected Ninth by Cincinnati
Toronto Blue Jays

Blue Jays Select JoJo Parker with Eighth Overall Pick
Boston Celtics

Damian Lillard Drawing Interest from the Celtics
Miami Marlins

Marlins Select Aiva Arquette With Seventh Overall Pick
Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates Select Seth Hernandez with Sixth Overall Pick
Kyle Stowers

Punishes Former Team with Three-Homer Game
St. Louis Cardinals

Cardinals Select Liam Doyle with Fifth Overall Pick
Daniel Gafford

Agrees to Contract Extension with Dallas
Colorado Rockies

Rockies Select Ethan Holliday Fourth Overall
Seattle Mariners

Kade Anderson Selected Third Overall by Seattle
Ha-Seong Kim

X-rays on Ha-Seong Kim's Foot Come Back Negative
Los Angeles Angels

Tyler Bremner Selected Second Overall by Angels in 2025 MLB Draft
Washington Nationals

Nationals Select Eli Willits First Overall
Jake Meyers

to Miss More Than Three Weeks With Calf Injury
Cooper Flagg

Shut Down for Rest of Summer League
LeBron James

Hasn't Requested a Trade
Quinshon Judkins

Following Quinshon Judkins Arrest, NFL Declines Comment
Travis Hunter

Earning Praise in Jaguars Camp for Work Ethic
Memphis Grizzlies

Cole Anthony, Grizzlies Agree to Contract Buyout
Edward Cabrera

Hopeful to Avoid Injured List
Oneil Cruz

Absent on Sunday
Lars Nootbaar

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Jake Burger

Scratched on Sunday
Iván Herrera

Ivan Herrera Back in Action on Sunday
Sean Manaea

Reinstated From Injured List
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Julius Chestnut

Kalel Mullings Competing for RB3 Role
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
Carlos Correa

Returns to Twins Lineup
Connor Norby

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Kimani Vidal

Fighting for No. 3 Job
Cam Hart

Recovering From Shoulder Surgery
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
Quentin Johnston

Might Not Get Many Chances to Prove Himself
Tre Harris

Officially a Holdout
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

. Should Move Up on Sunday
Ross Chastain

is a Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Josh Berry

Should Be Avoided in Fantasy at Sonoma
Chris Buescher

is A Great DFS Option to Consider for Sonoma Lineups
Riley Herbst

a Deep Sleeper at Sonoma
Travis Etienne Jr.

Needs to Bounce Back in 2025
Wan'Dale Robinson

Wants More Downfield Opportunities this Season
Quinshon Judkins

Arrested on Saturday for Battery and Domestic Violence
Terry McLaurin

Could be a Holdout at Training Camp
Roger McCreary

a Candidate for a Contract Extension?
Mike Evans

Buccaneers Could Have Difficult Time Retaining Mike Evans
Charles Cross

Could Sign Extension Before Training Camp
Xavier Restrepo

One to Watch Going into Training Camp
Calvin Ridley

Appears Re-Energized
Mark Andrews

Still a Key Piece in Ravens Offense
Ndamukong Suh

Officially Announces his Retirement
Jaylen Waddle

Motivated After Disappointing Season
Tre Harris

Still Unsigned
Alexandre Sarr

Plays Well in Summer League Loss to Phoenix
Yang Hansen

Looks Good on Friday Night
Erik Karlsson

Open to Move Away From Pittsburgh
Zach Hyman

Hopes to be Ready for Start of Next Season
SJ

Jeff Skinner Joins Sharks on One-Year Contract
Kon Knueppel

Struggles in Summer League Win
Walter Clayton Jr.

Plays Well on Friday Night
Cody Williams

Scores 21 Points in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Leads the Way on Friday Night
Isaiah Jackson

Signs Three-Year Extension
Marvin Bagley III

Joining the Wizards
Herbert Jones

Signing Extension with Pelicans
Jacob Toppin

Returning to Hawks
Dalton Knecht

Avoids Serious Injury
Javon Small

Signs Two-Way Deal
Ryan Reaves

Traded to Sharks
Vladislav Kolyachonok

Moves to Dallas
Matt Dumba

Lands in Pittsburgh
Mackie Samoskevich

Re-Signs with Panthers on One-Year Deal
Josh Manson

Inks Two-Year Extension with Avalanche
EDM

Isaac Howard Signs Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract With Oilers
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
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
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
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
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
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
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF