Jon Lester and Jake Arrieta, One-Two Punch

When you sign a $155 million contract over the next 6 years, you are expected to have an immediate impact for your ball club. In a completely expected move, new Chicago Cubs manager Joe Madden announced on March 2nd that the wealthy Jon Lester would be the opening day pitching starter on April 5th. Immediate […]

Ray McCallum (G, SAC) - NBA Waiver Wire Pickup

BALLER MOVE: Add in deeper leagues; monitor in all leagues OWNED: 7% in Yahoo! Fantasy Basketball leagues ANALYSIS: Ray McCallum is former top 20 high school player who decided against the big name schools in order to play for his father at the University of Detroit Mercy and gave away his notoriety because of it. Now he's starting […]

Top Five Starting Pitchers Due for Regression: Fantasy Baseball Predictions

  The Regression Monster Cometh While it isn’t an end-all, be-all stat – because those don’t exist – FIP is a much better tool for analyzing pitchers and predicting future performance than raw ERA. Case in point: In the past three seasons, the 10 pitchers who outperformed the FIP by the highest margins saw their […]

Rest in Peace Anthony Mason

We all die one day. The question is how hard do you fight when you’re alive? On a basketball court, nobody played harder than Anthony Mason. In Game 2 of the 1994 NBA Finals, the MVP of the league was trying to get position in the post – but he couldn’t get to his spot. […]

Save Prospecting: Top Five Non-Closing NL Relief Pitchers

  Every year in fantasy baseball leagues about one third of all the opening day closers lose their jobs due to injury or poor performance. It's just the nature of the game. Below are five NL relievers to watch closely in 2015 who could have significant fantasy baseball value if the closer on their team were to […]

NBA DFS Lineup Picks & Sleepers – FanDuel Advice for 3/3/15

All throughout the 2014-15 NBA campaign, RotoBaller will be analyzing the top NBA DFS lineup picks and providing our expert advice for the best sleepers at the guard, forward and center positions. Below are our favorite FanDuel DFS picks for March 3, 2015. Keep in mind, fantasy basketball is a fickle game when it comes to injured […]

Billy Hamilton (OF, CIN) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as OF2 ANALYSIS: Billy Hamilton's 56 SB last year still were good for the second-most in the league (Dee Gordon, 64). However, Hamilton left a lot to be desired last year, with only 72 runs scored and a mediocre .250 batting average. Understandably, Hamilton owners were driven crazy by his inconsistency, but he […]

NBA DFS Lineup Picks & Sleepers – FanDuel Advice for 3/2/15

All throughout the 2014-15 NBA campaign, RotoBaller will be analyzing the top NBA DFS lineup picks and providing our expert advice for the best sleepers at the guard, forward and center positions. Below are our favorite FanDuel DFS picks for March 2nd, 2015. Keep in mind, fantasy basketball is a fickle game when it comes to injured […]

Phil Hughes (SP, MIN) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target as High-End SP3 ANALYSIS: Phil Hughes posted 11.63 strikeouts for every walk he issued last season, the best ratio in MLB history for a starting pitcher. How did a pitcher who, in parts of five qualifying seasons as a starter, had never managed an ERA south of 4.00 manage to top such a […]

RotoBaller is Obsessed with Baseball and Fantasy Baseball

The passionate writers at RotoBaller have been hard at work all preseason churning out 5-6 articles a day, giving you the relevant MLB news and the best fantasy baseball analysis and advice for your 2015 drafts. And they will continue churning milk into sweet cream for the rest of the MLB preseason. But on this Monday morning, […]

NBA Waiver Wire: Four-Game Fantasy Basketball Sleepers (3/2 - 3/8)

This weekly column is primarily designed for anyone playing in a fantasy basketball head-to-head format, and especially for those of you playing in weekly lineup leagues. It is a great strategy to know which NBA players are scheduled to play in a four game week. You can use this information to gain an advantage in […]

2015 Dynasty / Keeper Fantasy Baseball Rankings: Relief Pitchers

The Final Chapter I considered skipping out on this article because of how volatile the closer position is in fantasy baseball. At the end of the day though, every fantasy team needs closers, dynasty and redraft leagues. Closers are the only relief pitchers we really value in the fantasy baseball community unless you play in a […]

Three Second Basemen Who Will Underperform Their 2015 ADP

  God Help Us All The fantasy outlook at second base is...well, pretty dire. That's a nice way of saying that it stinks. There isn't a single one worth drafting in the first round in all but the largest and deepest leagues, and there really aren't any players at this position I can say I […]

Garrett Richards To Miss Opening Day

Angel’s manager Mike Scioscia confirmed that starting pitcher Garrett Richards won’t be ready for Opening Day after having surgery on his knee in August. Last season, Richards suffered a torn tendon in his knee after covering first in the Angels’ August 20th game against Boston. After having the procedure Richards was expected to be ready […]

Chris Sale Injures Foot, Opening Day Start in Question

Chicago White Sox perennial Cy Young award contender Chris Sale has been diagnosed with an avulsion fracture to his right foot. The injury, sustained at Sale's spring training home while unloading his truck, is said to be minor and will keep Sale off the mound for three weeks. Sale was already named the Opening Day […]

NBA DFS Lineup Picks & Sleepers – DraftKings Advice for 3/1/15

All throughout the 2014-15 NBA campaign, RotoBaller will be analyzing the top NBA DFS lineup picks and providing our expert advice for the best sleepers at the guard, forward and center positions. Below are some DraftKings DFS picks for March 1st, 2015. Keep in mind, fantasy basketball is a fickle game when it comes to injured […]

Billy Hamilton: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Outfield Sleeper

The Flash, Sometimes While Billy Hamilton didn't steal 100 bases last year, his 56 still were good for the second-mostin the league (Dee Gordon, 64). However, Hamilton left more to be desired last year, with only 72 runs scored and a mediocre .250 batting average. Understandably, Hamilton owners were driven crazy by his inconsistency. It was […]

MLB Closer Breakdown: AL Central Edition - 2015 Fantasy Baseball

Detroit Tigers The Tigers closer situation is fairly settled, though not exactly awe-inspiring. Joe Nathan is currently set to lock down the ninth inning, with Joakim Soria and Al Alburquerque backing him up. The 40-year-old Nathan is a far cry from the perennial All Star that used to close for the Twins in the 2000s, and […]

NBA DFS Lineup Picks & Sleepers – FanDuel Advice for 3/1/15

All throughout the 2014-15 NBA campaign, RotoBaller will be analyzing the top NBA DFS lineup picks and providing our expert advice for the best sleepers at the guard, forward and center positions. Below are our favorite FanDuel DFS picks for March 1, 2015. Keep in mind, fantasy basketball is a fickle game when it comes to injured […]

Josh Hamilton: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Outfield Bust

Stay, Stay Away Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers is an awesome example of a player who can begin to age, fight through injury, and still provide great fantasy value. Miggy had injury issues for the majority of the second half of 2013, but he still returned some great value for those owners who invested with […]

Collin McHugh (SP, HOU) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target in Round 15-17 ANALYSIS: Collin McHugh started the 2014 season in Triple-A, having posted an 0-8 record and an 8.94 ERA for his career, but an early injury to Scott Feldman led to McHugh's recall. A seemingly temporary move turned into 25 starts, during which he went 11-9 with a 2.73 ERA, […]

Jacob deGrom (SP, NYM) - 2015 Fantasy Baseball Sleeper

BALLER MOVE: Target in Middle Rounds ANALYSIS: Jacob deGrom was among the best mid-season fantasy baseball pickups of 2014. Originally expected to work out of the Mets' bullpen, the rookie gave many fantasy owners a boost with his high strikeout totals and low WHIP and ERA. After a six-run outing on June 16, deGrom settled into […]

Toronto Blue Jays Sign Dayan Viciedo

  According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Toronto Blue Jays have signed outfielder Dayan Viciedo to a minor league deal.   Over the winter, Viciedo was released by the Chicago White Sox. The White Sox still owe Viciedo a 30-day termination pay which will be a fraction of the $4.4 million he would […]

NBA Podcast: Sorting Through The Trade Deadline Madness

  NBA Podcast: Analyzing Recent Trades Jon and Kia try and figure out what the hell happened before the trade deadline. They discuss what impact Goran Dragic, Enes Kanter, Reggie Jackson, Brandon Knight, Michael Carter-Williams, Kevin Garnett, K.J. McDaniels, Tayshaun Prince, and Isaiah Thomas will have on their new teams. Listen in on their podcasts, […]

NBA DFS Lineup Picks & Sleepers - FanDuel Advice for 2/28/15

All throughout the 2014-15 NBA campaign, RotoBaller will be analyzing the top NBA DFS lineup picks and providing our expert advice for the best sleepers at the guard, forward and center positions. Below are our favorite FanDuel DFS picks for February 28th, 2015. Keep in mind, fantasy basketball is a fickle game when it comes to injured […]

Week 18 Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire: NBA Deep Sleepers

Now in Week 18 of the 2014-15 NBA season, the waiver wire is a crucial part of the weekly/daily routine of fantasy basketball managers. The following group of players are not of the typical standard-league variety, but rather options for those participating in deeper formats. Unless you have the roster space to stash one of […]

Hitters Advanced Statistics: Keys to Analyzing Fantasy Trends

Advanced statistics are not new. Though as recently as 10 years ago they were the subject of much derision among sportswriters and broadcasters, all but the most hidebound and dusty now acknowledge their existence, with most embracing them at least to some extent. Even Hawk Harrelson-- he of "The Will to Win"-- accepts and uses […]

Taijuan Walker: 2015 Fantasy Baseball Starting Pitcher Sleeper

Taijuan Walker does not fit the term “sleeper” very well. He was a highly regarded prospect coming into 2014, and his name continued to pop up in trade rumors this offseason including for Justin Upton but the front office held onto their ace. Yet for some reason, there is minimal interest for Walker as a […]

Week 20 NHL Risers and Fallers for Fantasy Hockey

Hey RotoBallers. Here is my week 20 rundown of NHL Forwards, Defensemen and Goaltenders whose fantasy hockey values have been rising and falling over the past week of action. The rising players can be considered fantasy hockey sleepers or waiver wire pickups, depending on your league size and format. For those trending downward, it might […]

Jimmy Nelson (SP, MIL) – 2015 Fantasy Baseball Rankings Analysis

CURRENT ADP: Not Drafted RANKINGS STATUS: Undervalued ANALYSIS: After being a trendy midseason pickup last year, Milwaukee SP Jimmy Nelson struggled with a 4.93 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP. He  subsequently dropped out of favor with fantasy owners. However, his peripherals suggest he was actually better than he pitched as he posted a 3.78 and 3.92 FIP and xFIP, respectively. […]