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
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

Five Points League Sleepers for 2017 Fantasy Baseball

In last week’s primer, we covered some useful ground rules for making the mental adjustment from standard head-to-head or rotisserie formats to points leagues. Throughout the month of March, we’ll be putting those guidelines into practice and looking at player values for points leagues.

Nick Mariano is breaking down our tiered points leagues rankings, and today we're taking a look at 2017 sleepers and draft values for points leagues. Over the next few days, I’ll be offering my own thoughts on overvalued and undervalued points league targets. Starting right…about…now.

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.

 

2017 Points League Sleepers

Josh Bell, 1B, Pittsburgh Pirates

Bell made his debut last season and acquitted himself well, hitting .273/.368/.406 with three home runs and 37 R+RBI in 152 plate appearances. He walked more than he struck out, becoming just the sixth rookie since 2000 to do so (min. 150 PA). That kind of plate discipline bodes well for his future and makes him immediately appealing in points leagues.

It remains to be seen how much he’ll play. Bell’s defense is, to put it mildly, a work in progress, and the Pirates certainly know firsthand how important glovework can be. Pittsburgh retained David Freese and may elect to start him against southpaws. Bell is a switch-hitter, but stronger from the right side. He has also lacked the pop of a prototypical first baseman to this point, although his 17 homers between Triple-A and the majors last season represented a career best. All that said, Bell’s current price tag makes him a potential bargain.

 

Mike Moustakas, 3B, Kansas City Royals

Moustakas enjoyed a long-awaited breakthrough in 2015, hitting .284 with 22 home runs. Through the first month of last season, he looked well on his way to an even better follow-up. Unfortunately, a torn ACL ended his season prematurely, but he’s expected to be 100 percent before the start of the upcoming season. It’s understandable that he’s something of a forgotten man given the crazy depth at the hot corner this season, but Moustakas could easily produce something like Justin Turner’s 2016, and he’s available 75 picks later.

An encouraging sign for owners in points leagues: Moose Tacos has seen his strikeout and walk rates improve every season in the majors. While he’s only hit .247 for his career thanks to his propensity for pop-ups and lack of foot speed, Moustakas’ contact quality has taken a substantial jump in recent years, portending better days ahead.

 

Matt Holliday, OF, New York Yankees

Holliday was one of the most bankable assets in baseball for the first decade of his career, but recent times haven’t been kind to him. Injuries have limited him to just 700 total plate appearances in the last two seasons. In 2015, he managed just four home runs after averaging 26 over the previous nine seasons. Last year, he hit a career-worst .246 and posted a walk rate below 10 percent for the first time since 2007. Now he’s moving to the superior league at age 37.

So why draft him? Well, the batting average woes last season were almost certainly a mirage. Despite his contact quality, batted ball distribution and strikeout rate all being in line with his career averages, he suffered from a .253 BABIP, 80 points below his career mark. That probably contributed to his first walk rate below 10 percent since 2007. He’s also going to be playing half his games in Yankee Stadium, one of the most homer-friendly park in baseball. Finally, he’ll be able to DH, increasing his chances of staying healthy.

 

Aaron Nola, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

In his first full big-league season, Nola maintained his solid walk rate while adding several percentage points to his K% and cutting down on home runs. Under normal circumstances, he'd be somebody for whom we were all paying an expectant price. Unfortunately, an elbow injury and one of the lowest strand rates of the last 25 years conspired to wreck his ERA and ultimately, the injury ended his season.

Recent reports indicate that he'll enter spring training with no restrictions. Nola was in the midst of a breakout before the injury, but he’s been the 56th pitcher off the board on average in drafts so far. It’s rare that you have the opportunity to buy a breakout for peanuts after it’s already happened. Don’t let it pass you by.

 

Addison Reed, RP, New York Mets

Reed has been a high-strikeout pitcher from the jump, but he usually gave up a few too many home runs to crack the ranks of the truly elite relievers. Over the last two years, Reed has streamlined his mechanics, improving his production across the board. Not having to pitch in the White Sox or Diamondbacks bandboxes probably helped as well with the homer issues, but what we’re really interested in here is this: Since the 2015 All-Star break, Reed has pitched to a 1.81 ERA and 0.99 WHIP, with 122 strikeouts against just 21 walks in 109 innings.

Also interesting – Reed will likely open the season as the Mets’ closer, with Jeurys Familia expected to be suspended for at least a month following domestic violence allegations. If he continues to dominate like he has over the last year and a half, it’s possible that Reed could remain in the role even after Familia returns. Even if he doesn’t, Reed’s excellent K/BB and heavy volume (he was 10th in the league in innings among relievers) give him value in points leagues.

 

More Points Leagues Analysis & Draft Values




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Player Comparisons
Rookies & Call-Ups
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Al Horford8 hours ago

Back On The Injury Report
Derrick White8 hours ago

Off The Injury Report
TJ Friedl9 hours ago

Hits 10-Day Injured List
Aaron Gordon10 hours ago

Cleared To Face Phoenix
Michael Porter10 hours ago

Jr. Good To Go Wednesday
Nikola Jokic10 hours ago

Playing Against Phoenix
Jackson Chourio10 hours ago

Will Start In Right Field Friday
Jrue Holiday10 hours ago

Might Return On Thursday
Khris Middleton10 hours ago

Expected To Play On Thursday Night
Joel Embiid10 hours ago

To Return Soon?
Jamal Murray11 hours ago

Out Again On Wednesday
Rudy Gobert11 hours ago

Ready To Rock Against Pistons
LeBron James11 hours ago

Officially Active Against Memphis
Eduardo Rodriguez11 hours ago

Starts Throwing Program
Anthony Davis11 hours ago

Won't Play Against Grizzlies
Victor Wembanyama11 hours ago

Playing On Wednesday
Anthony Edwards11 hours ago

Will Play Against Detroit
Garrett Mitchell11 hours ago

Will Miss 6-8 Weeks
Aaron Nesmith11 hours ago

Back For Pacers Wednesday
Alec Burks11 hours ago

Remains Out On Wednesday
Chad Green11 hours ago

To Lead Closer Committee In Toronto?
Mitchell Robinson11 hours ago

Returns For Knicks Wednesday
Erik Swanson12 hours ago

Jordan Romano, Erik Swanson Officially Heading To Injured List
Kevin Gausman12 hours ago

To Make Season Debut Sunday Or Monday
Dejounte Murray12 hours ago

Upgraded To Available
John Konchar12 hours ago

Downgraded To Out
Vince Williams12 hours ago

Jr. Misses Another Game On Wednesday
Giannis Antetokounmpo12 hours ago

Expected To Face The Pelicans
Gleyber Torres13 hours ago

Will Bat Leadoff On Opening Day
Mark Hubbard13 hours ago

Coming Off A Career Performance
Davis Thompson13 hours ago

Looking To Pay Off A Stellar Run Of Ball-Striking
Max Scherzer13 hours ago

Making Solid Progress
Akshay Bhatia13 hours ago

Coming Into Houston With Confidence
Thorbjorn Olesen14 hours ago

Still Trying To Find Footing On U.S. Soil
Patrick Rodgers14 hours ago

Fighting Inconsistencies Heading Into Houston
Malik Nabers14 hours ago

Shines At Pro Day
Carolina Panthers15 hours ago

Jadeveon Clowney Signing Two-Year Deal With Panthers
Jordan Lawlar15 hours ago

To Have Thumb Surgery, Out A Couple Months
Wyndham Clark15 hours ago

Battling Back Injury Ahead of Houston Open
San Francisco 49ers16 hours ago

Talanoa Hufanga Expected To Return At Training Camp
MLB16 hours ago

Braves And Phillies Rained Out On Thursday
Jayden Daniels16 hours ago

Raiders To Meet With Jayden Daniels
MLB16 hours ago

Mets And Brewers To Be Postponed Thursday
Tank Bigsby16 hours ago

Jaguars Want Tank Bigsby More Involved
Will Smith16 hours ago

Inks 10-Year Extension With Dodgers
Josh Reynolds16 hours ago

Signs Two-Year Deal With Broncos
Jon Berti18 hours ago

Yankees Acquire Jon Berti From Marlins
Kodai Senga18 hours ago

Throws Wednesday
Matt McLain18 hours ago

Undergoes Shoulder Surgery
Doug Ghim18 hours ago

Looks To Bounce Back At Houston Open
PGA18 hours ago

Cameron Davis Seeking Consistency Ahead Of Houston Open
Thomas Detry18 hours ago

A Gamble At Houston Open
Ryan Fox18 hours ago

Lacks Upside Heading Into Houston Open
Andrew Novak18 hours ago

Will Be Chalk At Houston Open
Josh Doan20 hours ago

Scores Twice In His NHL Debut
Filip Forsberg20 hours ago

Makes History In Big Comeback Win
Jamie Benn20 hours ago

Scores In Fifth Consecutive Game
Sidney Crosby20 hours ago

Collects Three Points Versus Carolina
Artemi Panarin20 hours ago

Continues Scoring Tear With Three Assists
Joey Daccord20 hours ago

Shuts Out Ducks
Sahith Theegala21 hours ago

Showing Consistency This Season
Wyndham Clark21 hours ago

Working Toward Star Status
Scottie Scheffler22 hours ago

Heads To Houston At His Best
Colton Cowser22 hours ago

Makes Opening Day Roster
Sam Ryder22 hours ago

Putting The Lights Out Of Late
Joel Dahmen22 hours ago

All Systems Go For Joel Dahmen In Houston
Kurt Kitayama22 hours ago

Ready For Houston Debut
Ben Griffin22 hours ago

Finding Form Heading To Houston
Yariel Rodriguez1 day ago

Optioned To Triple-A
Taylor Moore1 day ago

Continues Made-Cut Streak Heading To Houston
Adam Svensson1 day ago

Hoping For Consistency In Houston
Taylor Montgomery1 day ago

Looks To Bounce Back In Houston
Jordan Montgomery1 day ago

Diamondbacks Agree On One-Year Deal
Amon-Ra St. Brown1 day ago

Discussing Extension With Lions
Jared Goff1 day ago

Lions Discussing New Deal
J.K. Dobbins1 day ago

Cleared For Football Activities
Los Angeles Rams1 day ago

Tre'Davious White To Join Rams
Jon Gray1 day ago

Dealing With Stiff Neck
PIT2 days ago

Sam Poulin Recalled From AHL
Jack Quinn2 days ago

Could Return Wednesday
Scott Mayfield2 days ago

Undergoes Season-Ending Surgery
TOR2 days ago

Mitch Marner Skates On His Own Tuesday
Trevor Zegras2 days ago

To Return Tuesday
Justus Annunen2 days ago

Inks Two-Year Extension
Nick Chubb2 days ago

Expected To Start Load Running Next Month
Justin Verlander2 days ago

Throws Successful Live BP Session
D'Andre Swift2 days ago

Bears View D'Andre Swift As Receiving Weapon
Cordarrelle Patterson2 days ago

Signing With Steelers
Sam Howell2 days ago

Seahawks Believe Sam Howell Can Be A Full-Time Starter
Tennessee Titans2 days ago

L'Jarius Sneed Agrees On Four-Year Contract With Titans
Dak Prescott2 days ago

No Indication A Deal Is Coming For Dak Prescott
Calvin Ridley2 days ago

To Have Big Role In Tennessee
Josh Jacobs2 days ago

To Be Used More In Passing Game
Brandon Saad2 days ago

Gets Another Goal In Monday's Loss
Logan Thompson2 days ago

Stretches Winning Streak To Three Games
Shea Theodore2 days ago

Maintains Good Scoring Form With An Assist
Brock Boeser2 days ago

Hits Goal No. 37
Cam Talbot2 days ago

Collects Fourth Consecutive Win
Anze Kopitar2 days ago

Records Fourth Straight Multi-Point Game
Oskar Sundqvist2 days ago

Suffers Knee Injury
Elias Lindholm2 days ago

Sits Out Monday
Jonathan Marchessault2 days ago

Bags Overtime Winner Monday
Pittsburgh Steelers2 days ago

Cameron Heyward Expected To Be Healthy For Training Camp
Zach Wilson2 days ago

Jets Could End Up Keeping Zach Wilson
Jarrett Stidham2 days ago

To Compete For Starting Job
Amanda Ribas3 days ago

Takes Decision Loss
Rose Namajunas3 days ago

Snaps Losing Streak
Edmen Shahbazyan3 days ago

Scores Vicious Comeback Knockout
AJ Dobson3 days ago

Knocked Out In The First Round At UFC Vegas 89
Fernando Padilla3 days ago

Gets Back On Track With Submission Win
Luis Pajuelo3 days ago

Submitted In UFC Debut
William Byron3 days ago

Dominates For Victory At COTA
Ty Gibbs3 days ago

Grabs Another Solid Finish At COTA
Chris Buescher3 days ago

Texas Native Chris Buescher Finishes Eighth At COTA
Christopher Bell3 days ago

Kyle Busch Confronts Christopher Bell Following A Top-10 Finish At COTA
Justin Haley3 days ago

Disqualified After Strong COTA Run
Martin Truex Jr3 days ago

. Rounds Out Top Ten At COTA
NASCAR3 days ago

A.J. Allmendinger Worms Way Up To Sixth At COTA
Shane Van Gisbergen3 days ago

Shane van Gisbergen Comes Down to Earth After Mediocre COTA Run
Ross Chastain3 days ago

Ran Well at COTA as Usual Despite Late-Race Fade
Christopher Bell3 days ago

Furious Charge Falls Just Short at COTA
Tyler Reddick3 days ago

Scores Strong Finish of Fifth at COTA
Chase Elliott3 days ago

Finishes 16th at COTA After Lackluster Performance
Billy Quarantillo4 days ago

Suffers Submission Loss At UFC Vegas 89
Youssef Zalal4 days ago

Gets Submission Win In Return To The UFC
Cameron Saaiman4 days ago

Gets Knocked Out At UFC Vegas 89
Payton Talbott4 days ago

Scores KO Win At UFC Vegas 89
Justin Tafa4 days ago

Drops To .500 In The UFC
Karl Williams4 days ago

Remains Undefeated In The UFC
Kyle Larson4 days ago

Is One Of The Optimal DFS Options For COTA
Denny Hamlin4 days ago

Should Denny Hamlin Be Rostered For DFS Lineups At COTA?
Kaz Grala4 days ago

Is A Serviceable DFS Play For COTA
Shane Van Gisbergen4 days ago

Will Start 12th In First COTA Cup Start
Todd Gilliland4 days ago

Is A Sneaky DFS Play With Upside For COTA
William Byron4 days ago

Is One Of The Top Favorites To Win At COTA
Christopher Bell4 days ago

Is A Comfortable DFS Play For COTA
Tyler Reddick4 days ago

the Favorite to Win at COTA
Ty Gibbs4 days ago

Looking for First Career Win at COTA
Rose Namajunas6 days ago

Looks To Get Back In Win Column
Amanda Ribas6 days ago

Set For Main-Event Matchup
Edmen Shahbazyan6 days ago

In Dire Need Of Victory
AJ Dobson6 days ago

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 89
Fernando Padilla6 days ago

Seeking Victory In Third UFC Appearance
Luis Pajuelo6 days ago

Makes His UFC Debut
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF